05 July 2011

a tree to climb

8 x 10 oil on panel

I did not paint this from life, but I lived life in order to paint it. I watched the film Seraphine with my local artist friends, friends for whom I am ever so thankful. This painting references an image from the movie. The fascinating story of Seraphine, sad and beautiful, was told with the use of lingering, quiet moments such as this. And so, inspired by friendship and beauty, and indulging in a quiet moment, I painted.

I actually completed this a week after the previous piece, but have not had a chance to post. I am catching up on life, which is a very good, very joyous, very tiring endeavour. I have drafted and sewn costumes, provided sewing tutelage, crafted gifts, invested time with teenagers I love (mine and otherwise). I have tended my garden, which (not gonna lie) is spectacular. I've experimented with natural dying of fabric and fiber. I've made lists and diagrams of future projects. And I've been designing an addition to our home that includes room for the easel, as well as all the other supplies and works-in-progress I continue to accumulate. I know that at some point I will devote time to the study of painting. For now, it is so nice to remember all the art forms which regenerate me, all the ways I create.











Seraphine and Darlene

20 comments:

Marian Fortunati said...

So good to "hear" from you again, Dar... Love the tree hugging photos as well....
You're so right... there are so many different art forms... in fact... isn't life itself an art???

Dar Presto said...

Good thinking, Mar. Certainly life is an art, a science, an obstacle course, a party.

Barbara Pask said...

This is beautiful and serene Dar. Good to see you posting, have missed you.

Dar Presto said...

Thank you, Barb!

Diana Moses Botkin said...

This does look like a very quiet moment. I'm glad to see you are back to painting. I hope you have lots of good quiet moments doing so in the coming months.

Dar Presto said...

Thank you so much, Diana!

Connie Chadwell said...

Hi Dar - I love all the different greens - so beautifully serene. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all your art endeavors - it's wonderful to have you back!

Dar Presto said...

Connie, thank you. A serene, shady tree sounds nice today.

Dar Presto said...

Thanks, Jala. Sometimes the palette is as frame-worthy as the art. Hmmm...

Lisa at lil fish studios said...

This is really lovely. Wonderful use of color.

Dar Presto said...

Hi, Lisa, thank you so much!

Diane Hoeptner said...

Ooh, that lime green and bluish aqua green is one of my favorite color combinations, love this one!!

Dar Presto said...

Thank you, Diane. I should admit I've gotten color inspiration for clothing and home dec from your paintings and Jala's.

Lastri said...

i like the paintings.
bht achi paintings hain MASHALLAH aap ne kafi mehnat ki hai..

Sheila Vaughan said...

The painting you posted here exactly brings Seraphine back to my mind. We are lucky in Manchester in that we have a local "arthouse" cinema so with a friend I saw the film last year. It was repeated on BBC4 tv recently but I missed the ending. You have provided it for me Dar. Thank you.

Dar Presto said...

Lastri, thank you very much.

Dar Presto said...

Sheila, that makes me so happy.

Jan Edward Vogels said...

I landed on your page by searching for "open new tab in window links" and your instructions were wonderfully simple and easy to implement. I stayed around to look at your paintings and then, as a bonus, you reminded me about Seraphine. It's time to finally see that film.

Dar Presto said...

I'm glad to help, Jan. Thanks for the visit.

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