Category Archives: Uncategorized

Author Iris Murdoch loved art.  In fact, she often incorporated it into her writing.  I just finished reading The Sea, the Sea this morning, and this novel was no exception: she mentions two paintings in particular.  Both paintings are in London’s The Wallace Collection.  The first is Franz Hal’s The Laughing Cavalier who is notContinue reading “What Do I See in The Sea, the Sea?”

While in Paris this summer I was honored to visit the great painter Modigliani’s grave.  I stood before the flat tombstone and observed the ticket stubs, cigarette buds, and etc. that littered his stone. I didn’t anticipate that over Thanksgiving weekend, while my family went to see that rare treat, a movie we all wantedContinue reading ““Bonding” with Modigliani”

There are two styles of writing about art: looking at a painting and imagining a story based on it, and analyzing a painting and creating a story based on the artist’s process. What do I mean by this, and what is the difference?  Okay, let’s look at a painting, The Old Guitarist by Picasso (imageContinue reading “How to Read a Painting”

If you haven’t read Tracy Chevalier’s novel “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” perhaps you have seen the eponymous film.  Or perhaps you have been residing under a large rock.  Well, here is our (because I want to see it too!) opportunity to see the painting that inspired them both. Not much is known about theContinue reading “Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” Coming to the US!”

Why couldn’t it have happened to me?  Well, at least it happened to someone so that ALL of us could benefit: a woman bought a box of stuff at a flea market, rooted around in it and noticed a framed painting that caught her eye. Upon closer examination she realized it was signed “Renoir.”  ExpertsContinue reading “Found! Renoir’s Paysage Bords De Seine”

Dear Readers, I was contacted to give books for a very worthy cause.  Please see the link below and consider giving if you are able.  This is a cause near and dear my heart.  You will have the chance to win (among many other cool items!) a signed copy of my Chicken Soup for theContinue reading “S.O.S. Post: A Worthy Fundraiser AND a Chance to Win!”

I am breaking my own rule by using a punny title, because so often a pun takes away the dignity of a piece, but this one fits. We humans have our necessities: food, shelter, clothing, and, for some of us, art.  Recently CNBC aired a program called “Ripping Off the Rich.”  Among other things itContinue reading “To Protect and Observe”