Spring

Spring is here; the garden is showing its brightest colors - daffodils, crocus and scilla are enjoying the sun's warming rays.  A pair of turtledoves has returned and are cooing devotedly to each other.  On my windowsill, even my amarylis has decided to blossom. . . a bit late, but all the more imposing with its deep red blooms.  It seems as though the whole world around me has suddenly woken up after the long winter.

And on the music front, the Figaro production I'm playing in Berlin has gotten off to a great start with a full house and really good reviews.  FUN!  On top of that, I'm rehearsing for a new production of "Tales of Hoffmann." Offenbach's melodies are so familiar and still so fresh;  this show will undoubtedly also be a crowdpleaser and fun to play. Relearning these old favorites is something like rereading a good book.  Even though you know the outcome of the story, you can "rediscover" the intricacies  written into the plot. There is always something new in a piece of art, whether it be music, painting or literature.

Rainer Maria Rilke has said this a bit more eloquently than I:

     Song, poem and painting are different from all else. . .
          They ARE not. 
               They BECOME something new each time [we visit them.]
    

Amarylis - a Late Showing

Fields

As I flew over Pennsylvania last weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed the view of changing landscapes - winter to spring and woods to fields to villages and cities.  From my windowseat I had a marvelous perspective of the state.  This is nature's patchwork;  an everchanging collage of colors and textures. Each single field has its own character and life - individual, but, yet related to its neighbor. Needless to say, observing this  on a fantastic (almost) spring afternoon, has inspired me again to paint.  The new ideas are still forming in my mind, so, for now I'll post two of my favorite field impressions in watercolor and ink.

Fields

My thought for today comes from Vincent vanGogh - my favorite painter of fields:

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together."

Patchwork

Tomorrow I fly home to Berlin after two weeks visiting my "cradle" of western New York.  Coming and leaving are truly bittersweet occasions, but today I have had some lovely experiences.  I delivered paintings for the members' show at the Artist Knot Gallery www.artistknot.com and already have some positive feedback.  so important for the artist/musician to know that we reach someone . . .

And I  have had a beautiful evening with my family, just sitting in the livingroom in front of the fireplace and conversing.   This is a time to treasure.

I am thankful.

Joyful Dance

Expanding

I've been so anxious to start capturing springtime in watercolors, only to discover that I forgot to pack my paintbox before travelling!  I have since remedied that situation, but in the meantime, I have submitted a couple photos to a local photography exhibit.  Japan always supplies me with plenty of inspiriation for painting and lots of images to preserve on the camera.  I chose two from my orchestra tour in the summer of 2010.

For western New Yorkers, the exhibit is at the D.A.Howe Library in Wellsville;  reception is Thursday, Feb. 23th from 7-8:30 p.m.  There is an amazing variety of subject matter and photographic techniques on display - much worth having a look.!

Friday

Fridays are very special. When I'm not busy rehearsing or performing an opera or concert,  I meet with several other artists to spend the evening painting together.  Each of us has his own style and work mthods, but we have a wonderful group dynamic - sharing ideas, techniques and critique - enjoying the company and doing our share of laughing, too.

Yesterday I experimented with my own interpretations of  Chinese watercolor and ink painting.  The contrast between the delicate watercolors and black ink and the way the two react with each other on paper provide wonderful possibilities for interesting pictures.

Full moon and snow

Tonight we will have a full moon and, after that, perhaps somwhat milder temperatures. . . . Seeing that huge sphere in the dark sky yesterday evening was quite impressive; even more beautiful, though, was the effect of the noon sunshine on the snow crystals.  The garden appeared to be littered with thousands of diamonds, sparkling for all they were worth. . . . tiny rainbows of color. 

After the First Snow

Even as we experience -20° in Berlin, we are reminded that the days are getting longer.  The sun will warm us up and spring is on the way. Sure thing!

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."