Study of Masters, Johannes Vermeer

I studied "Woman in Blue Reading a Letter," by watercolour (Original, Oil on canvas, 46.6 x 39.1 cm). Johannes Vermeer was the first artist I fell in love at primary school. His shadow and light so much fascinated young Sadami and read through lots of art books to know how he painted. As well as his light, his colour balance interests me, today. Since school days, I've kept drawing and dreamed to copy his work. I'm making my dream come true?!  My challenge was how I could interpret it by watercolour with 29.7 x 21cm, A4 size, different ratios. I enjoyed it so much. Good fun!! Hopefully, the mood will come up. Friends, studying masters is much like a private lesson by them. It's worth trying! 

In twenties, I began to feel the figures in Veermer were like still life or objects. Marlraux stated it well. "In the work of Vermeer the subject of the picture becomes - for the first time in the history of art - the object that is contemplated. --Andre Malraux, 1951" 
Then, Rembrandt interested me more than Vermeer. I've felt emotions and more humane subjects in Rembrandt's work. 
" Vermeer is not a sun painter, but rather a moon-painter – like Uccello – that’s good, it is the pure, final stage of art, the moment when it becomes more real than reality." -- Arshile Gorky. I like Gorky's say that features Veermer's work. 

I hope I will grow as an artist. In this pandemic, the study of masters is fun and good research at the same time. In Australia, Melbourne has another outbreak. Friends, please take care and stay safe. 

Study of Masters, Johannes Vermeer

Artists Need Proper Pay

Author/Illustrator Sally Rippin, below, acts on behalf of picturebook creators' rights for proper payment. Kind Sally advocates/promotes emerging creators, too. More than 570 positive feedback has come back to Sally. Please read this post.   

"Dear Teachers, please do not ask authors and illustrators to give talks to your students for free. Yes, a Zoom talk may not feel like a big deal, but many creators put as much time into the preparation of a Zoom talk as they would do a school visit, even if they are still wearing their pyjama pants!

It’s true to make a choice to be an artist often means accepting that your income will be unstable, but this year has hit artists hard: musicians with nowhere to play, visual artists with nowhere to exhibit, actors and playwrights with nowhere to perform. So many authors I know have books coming out they can’t promote, festival appearances have all been cancelled and regular school talks have dried up, which is often the main income stream for many kids’ book creators, especially when they are first starting out.

Artists do what they do because they are passionate about it, but no one can create anything on an empty stomach - or even just the anxiety of how they are going to be able to pay their next bill. Artists are always the first to donate their time, experience or wares, and while children were stuck at home, so many kids’ book creators shared book readings online, activities and writing workshops, because they genuinely care. But if you are now back at school, and can afford it, please consider booking them through their regular booking agencies so that all these beautiful people can earn an income and continue to create the books your children love.

Lastly, perhaps you might also consider not asking for an established author, like me. I’ve been publishing books and giving school talks for twenty-five years. Your kids probably already know my work and I’m in the fortunate position to be able to earn an income from my royalties, which isn’t the case for a lot of book creators.

Consider asking the booking agency to recommend an emerging author or illustrator. Many of them could probably really do with a break right now, especially if their first book has come out this year and they won’t have any other opportunity to promote it. I guarantee someone who has published one book will have as much to share with your students as someone who has published one hundred, and your students will have the added bonus of discovering a new favourite author or illustrator. And we need to introduce our children to as many diverse stories and voices as we can, now more than ever.

These are hard times for so many and we are so lucky to have stories to connect us, build empathy and help us feel less alone. Let’s make sure we look after the people who create these stories so they can continue to share them with us for years to come." 
Thank you, Sally!! You're a legend!! 

Artists Need Proper Pay

Youth comes only once in life time

"Youth comes, but only once in life time," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, below. 

This young man tried to explore the world and everything. A cold evening was falling on us. He passionately asked me about life. We so much enjoyed a chat. Young people are same in any era, I believe. May their thirsty for truth and love, want for justice and purity to reality, forever! I'm old though, young people and kids enjoy chats with me, whilst sketching. Enjoy your young days fully! It's not an easy time because of covid.  Please take care. Stay safe, Friends.

A Psalm of Life

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist. 
Tell me not, in mournful numbers, 
Life is but an empty dream! 
For the soul is dead that slumbers, 
And things are not what they seem. 

Life is real! Life is earnest! 
And the grave is not its goal; 
Dust thou art, to dust returnest, 
Was not spoken of the soul. 

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, 
Is our destined end or way; 
But to act, that each to-morrow 
Find us farther than to-day. 

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, 
And our hearts, though stout and brave, 
Still, like muffled drums, are beating 
Funeral marches to the grave. 

In the world’s broad field of battle, 
In the bivouac of Life, 
Be not like dumb, driven cattle! 
Be a hero in the strife! 

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant! 
Let the dead Past bury its dead! 
Act,— act in the living Present! 
Heart within, and God o’erhead! 

Lives of great men all remind us 
We can make our lives sublime, 
And, departing, leave behind us 
Footprints on the sands of time; 

Footprints, that perhaps another, 
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, 
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, 
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Youth comes only once in life time

Creating portraits is labour of love

Creating portraits is a labour of love or collaboration between an artist and a sitter, I believe. Thus, mutual trust is essential between two parties. I'd heartily appreciate this lady's friendship! She’s gone back to Europe though, we had a wonderful time in Drawing Sydney, a sketch club.

Although A sitter's response to an outcome is an another matter, I'd dedicate this say to anyone enjoying/creating or suffering in portraits.
“Every time I paint a portrait I lose a friend”--John Singer Sargent. His say might be a half bitter joke or a half serious confession from an artist’s view?! Friends, let’s sketch together soon.

Creating portraits is labour of love

Every life is Precious

I am, you are, we are Australian. Parramatta Eel Festival 2020.

Although we are in the pandemic, 

Also highly contagious is-- 

kindness, patience, love, enthusiasm, courage and a positive attitude. 

Don't wait to catch it from others. 

Be the carrier, Friends!!! 

Happy Painting. 

Every life is Precious

Friends, Stay Well and Safe

Violets. These little ladies in a pot are staying in my studio that a friend gave me. Violets are encouraging and comforting, whilst showing life. Friends, stay safe and well.

Friends, Stay Well and Safe

NSW Art Gallery comes back to life!

Let’s celebrate NSW Art Gallery reopens on 1st June! Good eye, Friends, yes, banner ads show the time of Archibald when I sketched it. Local libraries come back to life, too. As well as book loan, their community work is a pivot point in society such as advocacy, education, literacy and social work. I’d send big cheers to those brave fighters and our heroes!!
We'll share joy there.
Friends, stay safe and let's enjoy painting, too.

NSW Art Gallery comes back to life!