Next: Matisse, The Pont Saint-Michel (16)
Eyes of living creatures
Post #924 • December 20, 2006, 12:51 PM • 13 Comments
"Coffer," by Czeslaw Milosz.
Perhaps the world was created by the Good Lord to reflect itself in the infinite number of eyes of living creatures, or, what is more probable, in the infinite number of human consciousnesses.
Also of human fantasies, such as my romantic imagination of the forest in Raudonka or my imagination of the breasts of Miss Paula when I was in love with her.
Or perhaps He is a grand computer in which unlimited numbers of them would find rest.
Maybe He's busy going through them, comparing the reflected images with what really happened.
Laughing into His beard at the wise men who maintained that there are only reflections and nothing else.
2.
December 21, 2006, 12:59 AM
Franklin, is His capitalized in the book?
3.
December 21, 2006, 9:07 AM
I was trying to figure out how to introduce a similar effect into the acrylics at one point, and I decided I liked how those undifferentiated areas looked if they got enough texture on them. I'll play with it again sometime.
Jordan, traditionally one capitalizes He when it refers to God.
4.
December 21, 2006, 10:04 AM
Franklin, Have you ever tried Golden's absorbent ground? It is a gesso you apply after regular gesso, on either board or canvas. It forms a translucent matrix on top of the sealed surface that accepts thinned media (water or oil) somewhat like paper accepts water. There is some horizontal blooming as the media travels sideways, and so on. I think pure watercolor would work, but thinned acrylic looks about the same and has the added benefit that there is no need to covere with fixative or glass.
Absorbent Ground
Absorbent Ground, product details
Here is another If you want a toothy surface instead of an absorbent one:
Acrylic Ground for Pastels, product details
5.
December 21, 2006, 1:51 PM
What watercolors is OP talking about? What's the link to them?
6.
December 21, 2006, 2:06 PM
Jack, here and here. I guess Opie was surfing around.
Catfish, I don't want the acrylics to look watercolor-y though, just to modulate the surface transparently so the flatness didn't look so graphic. I was thinking of glazing regularly applied colors, full strength, with colors mixed in small quantities into gel medium. I tried as much on some of the earlier attempts in the series, and decided that the colors just looked better straight. I haven't totally given up on the idea though.
7.
December 21, 2006, 2:36 PM
Yes Franklin I understand that but I was unclear with the He and His combined with the Good Lord from the first paragraph. I guess that these are separate fragments from the same book yet different chapters or pages.
I ordered a shirt a few days ago and was wondering about the duration of shipping - any ideas ?
8.
December 21, 2006, 2:52 PM
Jack. I just clicked on Franklins pic at the upper right of the page.
9.
December 21, 2006, 2:58 PM
Jordan - now is not a fun time to go to the post office, but I'll send the shirt immediately after Christmas. Thanks for your order.
10.
December 21, 2006, 3:44 PM
Oh, I saw those at Dorsch. Brook showed them to me in his office, and I liked them a good bit. I think he sold at least one of the two later.
11.
December 21, 2006, 4:01 PM
where's the link to the watercolors. It doesn't appear on my screen.
12.
December 21, 2006, 4:50 PM
Bethea, see comment #6.
13.
December 21, 2006, 6:24 PM
Arb walk interests me quite a bit, odd shapped and colored trees with depth and good comp.
Good job !
1.
opie
December 20, 2006, 7:51 PM
You have something new going on with those watercolors, especially "arb walk". The watercolor's "wet" variations and staining takes away the resistent flatness (as does the exaggerated depth illusion), and the colors are excellent - the strong complements are not grating or harsh at all. there's a Fauve/Bonnard flavor to it which is really nice. Do more!