Anticipation

 “Whereas during those months of separation time had never gone quickly enough for their liking and they were wanting to speed its flight, now that they were in sight of the town they would have liked to slow it down and hold each moment in suspense, once the brakes went on and the train was entering the station. For the sensation, confused perhaps, but none the less poignant for that, of all those days and weeks and months of life lost to their love made them vaguely feel they were entitled to some compensation; this present hour of joy should run at half the speed of those long hours of waiting.” 

― Albert Camus, The Plague

"ANTICIPATION"

Oil on 12x12" gallery-wrapped linen

Some good news....this summer I was accepted into the first annual Online American Impressionist Society Show. I felt extremely honored to be included among so many talented artists. The piece, below: "Unchained Melody" (14x11" oil; sold) is still one of my personal favorites. 

Without a Doubt....a painting and a poem....

“Still, what I want in my life

is to be willing
to be dazzled—
to cast aside the weight of facts

and maybe even
to float a little
above this difficult world.
I want to believe I am looking

into the white fire of a great mystery.
I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing—
that the light is everything—that it is more than the sum
of each flawed blossom rising and falling. And I do.”

― Mary Oliver, House of Light

This painting, "Without a Doubt" is painted from life in oil on an 11x14" linen panel.

Wishing you well and moments of beauty during this unusual time.

I would love to receive your ideas for future poems to be posted with my art. You can include them in the comment section below or by contacting me through my Website, which is a good way to see my other paintings! ;)

KarenMeredithArt.com

While Alone at Topanga Thrift

Welcome to my Poetry and Painting Blog!

My last post offered the poem, "Undercurrent", by the talented Janeen Rastell. She told one of her poet friends about this blog. As a result, Val Dering Rojas sent me a chapbook of her poems, called "Ten", with the hope that one of them might inspire one of my paintings. And it did! I thank her for sharing them with me.

While Alone at Topanga Thrift

It occurs to me

that most things are made

to be filled, even now,

these old red dough-bowls

brim with sun;

the worn-soft roughness

of the feedbag, and the hips

of the ginger jar,

created to contain.

The riddle of space

is how insignificance can be ample,

how absence is useful:

the brass candelabra

with its obviousness and arms,

and now

this tiny teacup in my palm.

I wasn't built for this,

but from here,

emptiness appears to be

such a small thing.

..............

In response to this poem, I pulled some bowls from my shelf and created this still life: "Empty Bowls" 8x10 oil on panel

Other notes:

Victoria Park Florist is featuring a collection of my artwork. If you are in the neighborhood, please stop by to see it. 

1129 Weaver Dairy Rd

in Timberlyne Shopping Center

Chapel Hill, NC 27571

phone: 919 967 9394

Also...

I am honored that my oil painting, "Dappled Gate" (below) was accepted into the Fine Arts League of Cary Annual Juried Show. The reception is March 8 from 2-4 and the show will hang until April 18.

You may see more of my art at:

KarenMeredithArt.com

I welcome you to sign up, below, for this occasional blog and share it with your friends who might be interested. AND I invite you to (continue) to send  favorite photos you have taken and writings (inspiring, thought provoking, or humorous) 
 to me at kmeredithart@gmail.com.  

Simple Pleasures

Welcome to the sixth edition
 of Poetry and Paintings

Mary Ann Anderson, an artist* friend of mine sent me the following words by esteemed artist and teacher, Robert Henri, who wrote the Art Spirit published in 1923.

"The object of painting a picture is not to make a picture -- however unreasonable this may sound. The picture, if a picture results, is a by-product and may be useful, valuable, interesting as a sign of what has past. The object, which is back of every true work of art, is the attainment of a state of being, a state of high functioning, a more than ordinary moment of existence....

There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge."

An example of this is when I recently painted a still life....just three ordinary onions. But my true enjoyment wasn't because of the actual subject matter, rather it was the joy of relating to the color and light effects. After the busy and "stuff"-laden moments of the holidays, it's nice to get back to the "Simple Pleasures" of the day.

For information about the above painting and my art in general, please visit ...

KarenMeredithArt.com

I welcome you to sign up, below, for this twice-a-month blog and share it with your friends who might be interested. AND I invite you to (continue) to send  favorite photos you have taken and writings (inspiring, thought provoking, or humorous)  to me at kmeredithart@gmail.com.  

In the following section, I hope that you will add personal comments and links to your own images related to this posting. I would like to make this creatively interactive!

* Take a look at Mary Ann's website...her work is beautiful!

artistanderson.weebly.com