Thunderstruck!
Recent conversations got me to thinking about what really might have happened on that starry starry night in Arles!
Watercolour en plein air (bits of stuck-on leaf flicked off) 8 1/2″ x 12″
with thanks to John et al for the excellent inspiration!
artwork Copyright 2007 Jean Burman
And… while still on a decidedly irreverent streak… here’s a little poem I wrote (adapted actually) about painting “en plein air”. Hope it brings a smile…
The 23rd Psalm (for artists)
His help to paint pastures of green
With waters so still they restoreth my soul
And leadeth me down by the stream
-
To a very nice set-up beneath a large tree
Where my easel won’t rock in the breeze
And the valley before me is bathed in bright light
Cloud shadows traversing the scene
-
I won’t be frightened…for I know he’ll be there
To deliver the paint to the page
And comfort is mine when the great Lord God Divine
Rocks up in the guise of my sage
-
He preparest a table before me
With friends gathered round for a look
A rather large cup of good coffee
And some linseed oil in the nook
-
But my cup runneth over with laughter
As the heavenly father mistook…
the brush plunging into the coffee
not the linseed oil in the nook!
-
Surely goodness and mercy
Shall follow me all of my life
Just as long as I keep painting pictures
To keep me from getting in strife!
-
Amen… (and with apologies) *wink* & smile
Words & Pictures Copyright 2007 Jean Burman
August 26th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Jean that says it all …….
August 27th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Yes Jean, it does!! I have been inspired and am working on a painting that I cannot wait for you to see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have already given it a title “Northern Light”..it is for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 27th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Thanks Elinor!…
Gosh Jools… I’m honoured… and totally humbled! I can’t wait to see it!
August 27th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I have been working on it for the last 3 days. It is only small, just over a foot tall, by just under a foot wide…..I finished it! I think that I can get it up to either zaadz or cafe, if I use Emilys camera (shall have to wait until she gets home from school aaarrgghh!)
August 27th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Am having “technical difficulties”! Will sort this out Jean and let you know!
August 28th, 2007 at 2:02 am
Oh Jean,I just loved the poem,I can’t stop giggling
and I do believe that the Good Lord has a great sense of humour too…..lol
Bobbie xx
August 28th, 2007 at 3:50 am
Love the cartoon and the poem!
Where was God, I want to know, the many times in the evening I’ve dipped my brush into my vodka and soda?
August 28th, 2007 at 6:59 am
John…I can say the same thing when my cup of tea turned a funny shade of green!!!!! lol!
Jean I finally did it! Paintings are up at zaadz!
August 28th, 2007 at 10:20 am
Jean, while we are on the topic of “natural light” - there will be a “blood moon” tonight - also known as a Penumbral Eclipse! Have a peek between 7.30 and 8.30 pm!
August 28th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Hope these rain clouds clear! LOL
August 28th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Clear as a bell here Jean! Will try to get some photos.
August 30th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Thanks BOBBIE… I’m pleased you got a giggle from it! God gave us a sense of humour so I guess we have an obligation to use it! I believe the God I know would more than approve… (hope so anyway or I might find myself visiting the other place!) LOL Thanks again for looking!
Thanks too JOHN…
QUOTE Where was God, I want to know, the many times in the evening I’ve dipped my brush into my vodka and soda? UNQUOTE
(((hahaha))) … it was probably HE who dipped the brush!
August 31st, 2007 at 3:35 am
Perhaps so, Jean, but I like to think that he definitely partaketh of the “grape” with me.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:00 am
Indeed John! He MAKETH the grape… so why ever not? I wonder how many perfectly good beverages have been polluted by the casual swish of a paintbrush? It seems to be a universal problem! To artists everywhere and the sacrifices we make for our art… here’s cheers everyone!
September 1st, 2007 at 7:05 am
“CLINK!” My glass has strawberries in the bottom! lol! Thankyou for whacking pic of “Where’s the Champagne” up to cafe Jean……I never mind you doing that at all, in fact, I’m soooo glad you do!
September 3rd, 2007 at 5:58 am
Jean, I LOVE your psalm! May I copy it and post it up on my studio bulletin board? Having just returned from a fabulous adventure in Yosemite I am filled with God’s awesome creativity to paint! Everywhere one looks there’s a ready-made composition. As for humor…here’s an incident from our trip:
One morning at our cabin a beautiful Siamese kitty scratched at our back door. When I opened the door to say hello, however it scurried under the porch. Naturally, I called, “Here kitty, kitty…” expecting to coax it out of hiding. Well…the deer grazing in our neighbor’s yard heard me and, without a moment’s thought made a leaping beeline, (majestically jumping a fence in the process) to the back porch and screeched to a halt inches from me. It’s look of hungry anticipation was hysterical…like a child expecting a lollipop! I fed it a few grapes…shouldn’t have, of course…but couldn’t resist. Then the deer proceeded to flush the Siamese out from under the deck and chase it away, (like a dog!). Needless to say, our “big kitty” hung around for a few days after. Silly thing.
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 am
Hi Mary! Welcome back! What an adventure you’ve been on! I’ve never been to Yosemite or even seen a deer close up for that matter… so your story seems truly amazing to me! Talk about the call of the wild!!! I hope you were able to get some photos! I’m looking forward to hearing all about it…
Yes Mary… that’s fine to make a copy. It’s kind of cool to think my little poem will live on… more than half way round the world on your studio bulletin board! *wink*
September 3rd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
That is cool Jean!!!!
Hi Mary - your story is adorable. My Claire touched a duckling last week down at “our” creek, there was the mother and about a half dozen babies just having a little paddle around - she was so chuffed with herself, could not wait to get home and tell me all about it!
September 4th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Jean - could I get you to upload my “Sands of Time” from zaadz to cafe …c &c please! I have run out of MDF board at the moment… so it shall be a while before I impose on you again - thankyou!!!!
September 4th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
No worries Jools… I cleared my attachments at the cafe yesterday so there’s enough room now
September 4th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Thankyou!
September 5th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Hi Jools! Too bad you didn’t catch a pic of your Claire with the duckling. What a darling image I’m conjuring up in my head! I’ll keep a watch for your painting at AC- I’ve been neglecting them lately…feel bad about it too..
September 5th, 2007 at 8:44 am
Oh, and Jean….thanks for the cut and copy permission!!