Matisse

. . I have always sought to be understood and, while I was taken to task by critics or colleagues, I thought they were right, assuming I had not been clear enough to be understood. This assumption allowed me to work my whole life without hatred and even without bitterness toward criticism, regardless of its source. I counted solely on the clarity of expression of my work to gain my ends. Hatred, rancor, and the spirit of vengeance are useless baggage to the artist. His road is difficult enough for him to cleanse his soul of everything which could make it more so.
Henri Matisse

Creativity takes courage. 
Henri Matisse

Matisse, Still Life with Vegetables

How an Artist sees can be as different as there are stars in the night. To value how an artists creates and to share his vision takes into a world that is full of discovery. We learn to envision something differently, perhaps in way we might never think of. I can remember seeing Georgia O'Keefe's painting of a New Mexico Mountain range with a river snaking through, as if for the first time when I stood at her studio at Ghost Ranch. I had viewed the picture before, but until I saw what she saw it was like an aha moment: what had seemed abstract before became real. I was absolutely amazed.

Monet, Manet, Toulouse, Gauguin, Niki Saint Marie, Cezanne, Matisse, Rodin,Corbet...the list goes on and

France,

How do we ever thank you for your contribution to the world of art! Your artists have influenced the world and other artists creations for decades and decades to come. There was a time the world trotted to Paris to be at the birth of many an art movement. Writers, poets, visual artist and actors as well have found their creative muse in Paris and other lovely French cities. Artist have wandered your countryside with journal and sketchbook in hand. So here is a nod and a bow to all your have given to the art world!

A few websites of interest.

I love the work of

Niki-de-saint-phalle. I will never forget the first statue I saw in the water fountain outside the museum of art. It was playful, fun, crazy and yet serious all at once. I absolutely fell in love with her work and set out to learn more about this amazing artist. Here is a website that we can all learn more about this wonderful women born in 1930.

http://www.bechtler.org/Collection/Niki-de-saint-phalle

Monet

Who could not love Monet? A trip to his gardens at Giverny in magical. I took a trip to Paris when I was teaching and my elementary art classes surprised me with the gift of a journal to write about my journey. On the outside was a Monet painting. I took pictures, interviewed staff, and walked the gardens in awe. The students and I had watch many films and one about a young girl whose dream it is to go to Giverny. The film takes us though the yellow dinning room where we meet his large family and see Japanese Woodblock prints(that his flower bulbs were wrapped in). We visit his large studio, where with failing eye sight, Monet paints larger and larger canvases. As I walked the gardens I thought I was seeing a ghost, a man who looked like Monet was standing on the Japanese bridge. I went up to talk to him, he was real. He was Italian and spoke little English. When the kids saw our picture together on the bridge, they were sure I had met Monet himself!

http://giverny.org/monet/welcome.htm

Cezanne

Cezanne was the first French artist I was ever aware of. I was in high school and though I always drew, I had been exposed to very little art in school. I was in high school and our teacher wanted us to do a still life. I looked at her books and discovered a still life done by Cezanne. Something about the painting struck me, perhaps the geometrical structure or the brush work. But, it was his work I chose to look toward for ideas. My interest in Cezanne lasted for many years, before I discovered other French artists.