I was wondering if anyone feels they might benefit from being part of an art group specifically for those here. I'm an artist, though I have to admit to you that I've produced absolutely nothing for ages due to being ill and in hospital, not having anywhere to exhibit for aeons and generally being extremely knackered out most of the time. But then I started thinking maybe I could do something positive about it. I've worked within what's called the 'Arts in Health' sphere and done a lot with things like colour therapy. I'd also like to say that you don't have to be rich to make art. I've done a whole exhibition made from recycled materials. It's all about taking yourself to another place for a while and having a bit of messy fun. No judgemental rubbish or anything like that. And if you don't think you're able to draw anything that looks remotely like what it's supposed to look like, well, that doesn't matter either. I think that maybe for starters you might like to message me if you are interested and then I'll try and work out a little programme. Just for us. Let me know what you think. Rainy X
Hi Patricia. I'm glad you're enjoying the pictures. This Van Gogh painting has a bitter-sweet story behind it. You will know that the painter suffered from what was thought to be mental health problems during his life. Later opinions believe that he suffered horribly from tinnitus which at the time was interpreted as a mental condition. This painting completed, with others similar in nature, whilst he was incarcerated in a mental hospital and was inspired by reproductions sent to him by his brother, Theo. I'm attaching this one by Jean Francois Millet which is thought to be the inspiration for the painting. The women were digging for root vegetables - often still in the ground - and the fields could be seen from his barred window. He wrote to Theo: ' "During my illness, white snow fell, I got up in the night to look at the countryside. Never before did the landscape seem so moving and sensitive".
'The Gleaners' Jean Francois Millet
It's Day 6 already of my 12 Days of Arty Christmas. Here is the next one which is by the Scottish artist Joan Eardley. I'm including this piece as Joans' career was cut short by breast cancer in 1963, aged 42. It's a tragic story as she had found a lump and then consulted an homoepathic doctor, who had advised her that nothing was wrong. By the time the headaches began she had already arrived at the later stages of the disease. So I think there are lessons to be learned from this sad story, but also - I hope you will agree - great hope because since then so much has changed and moved on in cancer treatment. So maybe reflect a moment, but also rejoice in the legacy she left.
Catterline was a small fishing community near Aberdeen and was where she spent the last years of her life immersed in the landscape. Her early years, following her Glasgow School of Art days, were spent painting the streets of Glasgow and many featured the street children of the district and are beautifully captured. Do have a look at the work of this talented woman. Rainie x
'Catterline in Winter' by Joan Eardley
Just finished putting the tree up
