Saturday out for arts

 A trip to the movies with my partner Keith Stanley weekend before last was to a great Artist film about an artist I didn't care much about but was curious to learn more. It was to see Mr. Turner and the friends who said it's a must see were right it was full of stuff I love, drama, costumes, historic settings and in this case the story of a painter who had a big impact on artists who have followed him.  It's nominated for Oscars and even without that was an educational experience full of beautiful cinematography.

After the movie we went for lunch at our favorite downtown tea house called Teaism where they serve all sorts of teas and Asian influenced foods. We both enjoyed a heaping plate of Korean Beef Barbecue with brown rice and a Chinese Cabbage salad followed by a Salty chocolate pecan oatmeal cookie! Too good so it's a good thing we walked six miles over 12,000 steps around downtown before the movie and after lunch. 

Teaism has great big Koi fish in a pond at the base of the lower level stairs that always want to come greet anyone who comes near their home. After we said hello I suggested we continue down the block and go see some real Turner paintings at National Gallery of Art just a couple blocks away. My favorite Turner in the collection of about six is this one of a moon lit night showing a pier and port where coal ships delivered coal from the mines of United Kingdom to London. 

detail of the lower right corner of the full painting above. 

If you get a chance to see it in a theater it's going to be better than on a small screen with all the spectacular Turner like skies...

therapies, talk, quilt, sketch, bake

maiden washing cloth in a creek

red, black and white

yellow 

pink and chocolate brown

This week was Valentines day and we had a great trip out to Bethesda for a movie a walk and some fine foods. We saw a European film on Carl Jung and his mentor Sigmund Freud and the patient Sabina Spielrein that brought them together. It was a good film and I enjoyed watching the costumes, sets and learning more about Jung who embraced a lot of unusual ideas. I realized many of his ideas are put forward in "the artist's way" a book that helped me and so many artists move towards a better understanding of synchronicity and how it can be embraced to move your creativity forward. The movie is called A Dangerous Method . I really liked looking at the men in this film who were all buttoned up in white tight stiff collars of their 1900 era in addition to the sets and costumes of the ladies. It was a emotional drama taken from a book that was also a play. If you are interested in psychology and talk therapy origins or if you wonder why the therapists of today are so careful not to get personally involved with their patients this movie might help explain why. 

This week I also had the pleasure of visiting my Mom for a few days and my friends Tom and Peter out in Middleburg, Virginia for a rainy afternoon luncheon. I took along my quilts and English paper piecing project to show them. It got rave reviews and Peter says I have more patience than he does. Later with Mom's help I collected a bag full of new fabrics for new rose star blocks! Very exciting to go pick out the new little fat quarters and try to make a palette of colors and patterns that suit my own personal taste and style as the project moves from sample to real quilt size. We had a recipe for Frangelico chocolate cookies left over from the holidays and while I was visiting in Middleburg she mixed up and chilled the dough. Then when I got home, on that rainy Thursday afternoon, we got right to work baking up the whole batch. Wow they are like chocolate truffles with hazelnut and sweet powdered sugar on top. Yummy and just right with a cup of red hibiscus tea. Red and brown? Maybe that is a color theme I should try for a rose star block? Inspiration comes from so many sources when you are open to the possibilities. She also had a delicious Lemon Pound Cake sent to her from my sister as a Valentine which she was anxious to share and I ask you: who could say no to a cup of tea and lemon pound cake on a rainy day? This huge special cake was from a place in Warrenton, Virginia that has a red truck in their logo. http://redtruckbakery.com/home We are planning a visit to the bakery in person one day soon! Thanks Jenny. 

 

three of four completed this week 

the collection pined on my felt wall in no particular order 

My sketches this week all felt a little hurried and didn't get very much of my attention but the practice goes on as a daily routine. I hope to print out some of the best to show this year in spring and summer shows as I move forward with my new drawing and painting practice. I also plan to begin making new pocket books for anyone who is interested in a hand bound sketch book for your pocket! I was given some new Japanese papers and satin book cloth from my Valentine Tuesday! Warmer weather means it is easy to go out on our glassed in porch to work on those types of projects.

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