Tuesday, January 31, 2012

It is an icy, cold day in Berlin - but the sun is shining and putting a silvery sheen on the dusting of snow that we have.  Beautiful...  I'll certainly be getting out my paints this afternoon. For some reason, I like drawing winter trees (especially the willows and birches).  The branches tell such wonderful stories.









. . . my "chuckle of the day". . . courtesy of Garrison Keillor. . . 
    What rhymes with "Amazon?     "Pyjamas on."


Saturday, January 21, 2012

Madame Butterfly

Tonight is premiere night for "Madame Butterfly" in Magdeburg.  This has to be some of the most wonderful and dramatic music ever written. This scene brings tears to my eyes every time - (hope I can read the music in spite of it all!)
Butterfly aria
I won't go into the details of the plot (it isn't a happy end), but the music is incredibly moving. It is a mixture of everything from Gilbert & Sullivan through Wagner to Gershwin  -  and, of course,  original Puccini.  It isn't difficult to see why this is one of the most performed operas in the world today. 


This is my recollection of a beautiful templegarden in Kyoto - fitting for today.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Wednesday

It is a fantastic winter day, crispy and cold, but not without the first signs of spring. It has been warm enough that the tree buds seem to be ready to burst.  I do like snow, but those rays of sun are really welcome.

. . . AND . . . a gentleman, who had seen my artwork at an art fair recently, came to my studio this morning and bought TWO paintings!  Now that is a good start to the year.

Fun Flowers

Monday, January 16, 2012

Monday in Berlin

We finally have our first smattering of snow this morning.  And I was just starting to imagine the snowdrops poking up out of the earth. . . .guess the flowers are used to this sort of thing, though.  I'm glad to not have to be on the road today. I've played an hour of Bach this morning - always a good start to the week - will do a bit of deskwork (including some long neglected correspondence) and then might even do some finishing touches on several paintings I've started.  If there is enough daylight, I might even take some pix and post them. . . will see how far my energy goes takes me.

My thought for the day;  "Think it.
                                      Imagine it.
                                      Do it."

Thursday, January 12, 2012

It is another gray day in Berlin. . . all the more important to keep busy with cheery things.  I'm still enjoying my Christmas tree, though it will surely find its way to the recycle bin later this week.  In the glow of the lighted tree, it has even been enjoyable to sift through old magazines that have been saved and saved and saved. . . . I've sorted out almost 200 issues of Reader's Digest.  Some of them are 25 years old.  And I've even found someone who will take them and read!  I'm just glad to have the space now in my bookshelf. 

While I was sorting, though, I did have a look at some of the Quotable Quotes that used to be on the inside cover of the magazine.  How about
         "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"

or from Andy Warhol "They always say that time changes things, but actually you have to change them yourself."

Guess I'll just get on with my cleaning and sorting!   Have a great day.







Sunday, January 8, 2012

I found this wonderuful thought on Jean Haines`s blog. . .
moving. . .


Yesterday has gone, yesteryear is disappearing and your tomorrows are about to arrive. 
I wish you , most of all joy.

At midnight your tears will wash away your sadness,and lead you fresh faced into a whole new year.

Hang in there, let go of  2011 and welcome 2012.

It's going to be a magical year.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

After playing a ballett in the afternoon, I caught up with my painting group in the evening and started a new watercolor . . .still life with fish . . . .will see how it develops.  Now I have to do some work on my website (sigh) my knowledge is SOOOOO limited. Can anyone help me?

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The sun is shining over Berlin today.  Can hardly believe that this is January.  Love it.

I'm being inspired today by this fantastic group of watercolors.  The variety of techniques is amazing and so many of the works really emit a wonderful atmosphere.  I would have a hard time picking just one winner.

 http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.252375371493545.62864.248127571918325&type=3

I can hardly wait to get my chores done for the day and start painting!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

a new year - a new start - a new blogger

Seeing as how I have decided that 2012 will be an extraordinary year, I thought I'd give it a good start by sharing some of the extraordinary (and the very ordinary, though not less interesting) wonders in my daily life.

As a freelance musician, I spend lots of time driving between gigs; this makes for lots of time to ponder all sorts of wild philosophies and time to develop new ideas for paintings (the other half of my professional life).  It's a great combination and makes each and every day something new.  No boredom here!

I had a rehearsal for a new production of Madame Butterfly this morning - I really love sitting in the midst of the orchestral sound. . . .  dolby surround for real!