still life masters

I could study these paintings every day for the rest of my life yet still see something new to appreciate and discover. They are a masterclass in composition, color, texture and beauty. How a few simple objects can transform into a masterpiece.

still life with self portrait ~ emil carlsen

still life of cooking utensils, cauldron, casserole and eggs ~ jean baptiste simeon chardin, 1733-1734

still life with pepper and carrot ~ william merritt chase, 1900

still life ~ henri matisse

still life with teapot and fruit ~ henri rousseau

still life ~ julian alden weir, 1902-1905

still life with apples ~ paul cezanne, 1879

still life with apples and pears ~ gustave courbet, 1871

still life ~ giorgio morandi, 1925

still life with pears ~ vincent van gogh, 1888

still life in green ~ helene schjerfbeck, 1930

still life ~ camille pissarro, 1867

still life with nautilus cup (detail) ~ willem kalf, 1662

still life glass, silver goblet and cup of champagne ~ henri fantin latour, 1871

still life with china vase, copper pot, an apple and a bunch of grapes ~ william merritt chase

kitchen still life ~ william scott, 1948

brass kettle with porcelain coffe pot ~ emi carlsen, 1910

Read Full Post »

reawaken

“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in our soundest sleep. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavour. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts.”
~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden

William Merritt Chase, 1893

Read Full Post »

autumnal brushstrokes

A glorious mosaic of gold, orange, and red carpets the green grass of summer…brilliant colors, shapes, and textures only nature could provide…somehow, with each passing year, the transition becomes more beautiful…may these brilliant paintings, with their autumnal brushstrokes, offer you a vibrant echo of the season

Orange, Red, Black ~ Esteban Vicente, 1962

Fruit sur la Tapis Rouge ~ Pierre Bonnard, 1943

Three Red Apples ~ Gustave Courbet, 1871

Violet, Black, Orange, Yellow on White and Red ~ Mark Rothko, 1949

Red Ridge ~ Wolf Kahn, 2013

Bouquet de Roses D’Inde ~ Bernard Cathelin

Red Across ~ Esteban Vicente, 1996

La Jatte de Citrons ~ Guy Bardone

Bold Color ~ Wolf Kahn, 2011

Orange Downpour ~ Helen Frankenthaier, 1970

Gray, Orange, Black and Red ~ Wolf Kahn, 2013

Bright Orange with Green ~ Peter Joseph, 1988

In the Red Room ~ Edouard Vuillard, 1905

Ochre and Red on Red ~ Mark Rothko, 1954

Read Full Post »

painted leaves

Inspired by Thoreau’s Autumnal Tints, his classic essay on the colors of fall, I collected a variety of leaves from my neighborhood and photographed them at their peak…how I adore their imperfections and curled up corners! At the outset, I was determined to capture the most colorful and unblemished leaves…but as my work progressed, I discovered they all had some sort of unique flaw…maybe it was a hole or an uneven edge…in any case, these flaws are what made them beautiful…may we all be inspired by life’s perfect imperfections!

“October is the month for painted leaves. Their rich glow now flashes round the world. As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall, so the year near its setting. October is the sunset sky; November the later twilight.” ~ an excerpt from Autumnal Tints by Henry David Thoreau

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

Read Full Post »

autumn bounty

Gold, crimson and orange abound! How glorious are the tastes and colors of autumn…I hope you are enjoying the golden light and sweet flavors of this extraordinary season!

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

Read Full Post »

gary’s autumn

How wonderful to experience the beauty of autumn through the eyes of a loved one! These expressive photos of Hutchins Farm, in Concord Massachusetts, were taken by my brother Gary while on a shopping trip with my mom…autumn’s warm golden light served him well elevating this humble window shade and orderly row of pumpkins into glowing works of art and in the foreground, bins of aubergine tinted vegetables offered him sculptural forms and textures as only nature could provide…a simple yet soulful composition that speaks so eloquently to fall in New England…so glad I could share this with you today

Gary and mom’s shopping list:

apples

honey nut squash

scallions

cooking onions

tomatoes

raspberries

photography by gary geissler, 9/29/13

Read Full Post »

the changing seasons

fall to winter…

bare branches prepare for the coming of old man winter…a brisk walk in the cool moist air reveals the glorious scent of pine and a neighbors wood burning fire…favorite wool sweaters and throws take center stage once again…and like old friends, they offer familiar warmth and comfort during this festive time of year…

photos from The Gifts of Life

Read Full Post »

the wild swans at coole

The Wild Swans at Coole by William Butler Yeats

The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
Mirrors a still sky;
Upon the brimming water among the stones
Are nine-and-fifty Swans.
The nineteenth autumn has come upon me
Since I first made my count;
I saw, before I had well finished,
All suddenly mount
And scatter wheeling in great broken rings
Upon their clamorous wings.
I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All’s changed since I, hearing at twilight,
The first time on this shore,
The bell-beat of their wings above my head,
Trod with a lighter tread.
Unwearied still, lover by lover,
They paddle in the cold
Companionable streams or climb the air;
Their hearts have not grown old;
Passion or conquest, wander where they will,
Attend upon them still.
But now they drift on the still water,
Mysterious, beautiful;
Among what rushes will they build,
By what lake’s edge or pool
Delight men’s eyes when I awake some day
To find they have flown away?

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

Read Full Post »

creepy crawler

I spotted this jurassic park size spider outside my window this morning…thankfully she is far more interested in weaving her web and feasting on bugs than she is in me! All I need now is a black cat and a broomstick to complete my halloween decor!

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

Read Full Post »

small hands

this afternoon, amid all the vibrant autumnal color, the heart of this purple cabbage stole the show…her luminous hot pink core, a sibling to the red beet perhaps, opened my eyes to a more feminine fall palette…and her delicate ruffles, like small hands, appear to be reaching out for the warmth of the sun…

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye ~ 10/11/12

Read Full Post »