Moulin Rouge

In early 1962 I lived in Dreux, France. I was very young and all of my memories are pleasant, some associated with smells like the bread baking in the morning when the housekeeper would take me with her to market. The taste of  a Palmier which the baker would treat me to each time I went. Mustard on a ham sandwich and my beloved ballet. 

My parents would go on dates to Paris and one night they came home with a doll dressed in purple satin with rows of white ruffles, feathers, black boots and she was beautiful. They had gone to Moulin Rouge and the doll was a Can-Can dancer. I was smitten with her.

This doll is very similar to mine except mine has blonde hair.

A few years later I saw the 1952 John Huston film Moulin Rouge 


and my doll became more special to me. Saturday night I was hunting for a movie to watch when that same movie popped up. I watched it again and I still love it. 

My inspiration...Moulin Rouge.
Enjoy!

Cheeky William

While I was on adventure in Denver I had a day at the Denver Art Museum and was inspired by a few paintings. One of them was "Still Life With Telegraph" by William Harnett. 

  William Michael Harnett ca 1880

William was born in County Cork, Ireland and shortly after that his family immigrated to America and settled in Philadelphia. His first known painting is dated 1874.

What fascinated me with this painting was that the pipe was still hot. As though William had been smoking it just before he set it down. The ash still has red hot coals and there is smoke twirling upwards. Capturing movement in a still life is cheeky and I adore this painting.  He painted it in 1880 but it was not the first painting of a still smoking pipe.

This week enjoy Cheeky William. 

Women of This Land

I just returned from an adventure in Denver.

One of my escapades led me to the Denver Museum of Art for all things art.  Another to the American Museum of Western Art to search for one of my favorite painters of Native People. I was not disappointed. 

I am a fan of artist George Catlin. I know he is surrounded by controversy. Some believing he exploited and others saying he captured in his portraits a people and way of life that would soon be destroyed. 

George visited 48 tribes in 6 years leaving us with a look back.  While some of his portraits are detailed and show great care, 
                
                      Little Wolf by George Catlin

others appear clumsy and rough. 

                                   
                          Du-cór-re-a, Chief of the Tribe, and His Family by George Catlin

Perhaps some people sat with pride and patience and others were shy and elusive causing him to have to draw fast.

In honor of my solo adventure into the once Wild West I have chosen his portraits of women. 
Oó-je-en-á-he-a, Woman Who Lives in a Bear's Den  -  George Catlin,

This week enjoy Women of This Land. 

Tennis Smashed

I am not a tennis person. My parents did not play. I knew nobody in their circle who played. It was off my radar until my sophomore year of high school. It was part of the Athletic program and I had friends who played. Still it did not interest me. Since then I have had associates, acquaintances, and clients who have played.

One in particular Val. I dropped by her place the other day and she opened the door while glued to the Television. Strange for her as I rarely find her with it on. She was engrossed in Wimbledon. She loves it.

So, when I came across the heckler video from Wimbledon I was inspired.

It is believed that the game of tennis originated in France in the 12^th century and was first played without rackets being called jeu de paume. It was very popular with the nobility of France and in the 16^th became widespread throughout Europe.

The Tennis Party  -  - Sir John Lavery

This week enjoy Tennis Smashed. 

Man Holds Man

I was browsing through some art sites for inspiration for this week’s show when I came across an odd sight. A portrait of a man holding a statuette with his family. It seemed strange to me right now in the moment but I am sure it held great meaning for the man as well as his family. 

We have photographs we tote through life with us that will mean nothing to our great grandchildren’s great grandchildren. So I am curious about this sculpture. Who is the family, the sculpture, the subject of the sculpture?

It is a portrait of Arrigo Licinio and His Family painted by Bernardino Licinio.  Arrigo is Barnardino's brother and also a painter. The man holding the statue may be Giulio Licinio Arrigo's son. 

Bernardo also created a self-portrait in a workshop surrounded by his pupils holding sculptures. It is believed one of the young sculptors is Giulio Licinio his nephew. 

Mystery solved... maybe.

This week enjoy Man Holds Man. 

Oystermen and Women

My 3rd Great Grandfather John lists his occupation as an 
Oysterman in 1860. 

An Oysterman can be a person who sells, gathers and/or cultivates oysters. It can also be a type of boat specifically equipped to harvest oysters. His occupation in prior years says sailor. 

Oysters have been around since the dinosaurs and fortunately for Oystermen (and me) they did not go extinct like those huge beasts. 

One of my favorite photos is of my father shucking oysters with me. 

For your enjoyment here is a link to poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes titled Ballad of the Oysterman
  

Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894) by E. T. Billings

Or as Hector Hugh Munro said 
"Oysters are more beautiful than any religion...There's nothing in Christianity or Buddhism that quite matches the sympathetic unselfishness of an oyster."


Hector Hugh Munro


This week enjoy Oystermen and Women

She is Quinceanera

This past weekend I worked a Quinceanera. 

It was exciting and the Quinceanera beautiful. 

Her Damas were lively and very pretty. 

I also worked her older sister's several years ago. There is one more daughter. I hope to see this one to her special day also. 

My daughter was a Dama in her friends Quinceanera. Which when I learned all about this loving, meaningful, beautiful tradition. 

This week enjoy She is Quinceanera.