On 01.02.02, I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Too late for surgery, I had chemotherapy, which failed. In May the chemotherapy was changed and I was soon in remission which was celebrated and welcome and lasted nine years - until October 2011. There was progression in 2011 so more treatment was indicated and I am now back in partial remission. But I'm not only a cancer patient - I also enjoy my family, walk my dogs and am learning to draw and paint. Life is good!

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Van Gogh slept here

I have a couple new projects in mind for the next few days. I've always liked Van Gogh's painting of his bedroom in Arles so I'm planning a divided painting of four objects from the bedroom. I'll place them on the left hand side of my sketchbook with the complete picture on the right hand side. That will give me some practice in small pieces before I try the larger one.

Tomorrow I'll be seeing the Arts & Crafts boys in Juvenile Hall. These are kids who have never heard of Van Gogh so my plan is to talk about him for about two minutes. They'll be interested in knowing that he had mental health issues because most of them do too. Then I'll give them a choice of three projects. They can draw a memory picture of their bedrooms at home. If they don't want us to see their bedrooms they can draw a imaginative picture of the kind of bedrooms they would like to have. They can copy Van Gogh's painting. I always post their work so there's incentive to do their best -- and, when they do, they are surprised at how well they can do.

9 comments:

  1. Well done. I like yur rendition in the order of Van Gogh.

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  2. Thank you, Alan. This was a fun project because the lines are relatively easy to follow and it's based on primary colors. I used watercolor pencils and finished most of it at the dog park while Brix romped with his friends. - Barbara

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  3. Anonymous1:11 AM

    This looks great BArbara..love the bed!
    ronell

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  4. Anonymous4:48 AM

    Wonderful bed and exercise. Let us know how the boys do with their "challenge."
    Shirley

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  5. Anonymous6:29 AM

    This is nice. It reminds me of a poem I started in my poetry journal but never finished. All I had in fact was the title, "Van Gogh's Room." Later, when I came back to find the nonexistent poem in my journal, I made a note: "Apparently it was invisible"! ;-)

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  6. I think there is real value in studying masters like Van Gogh. Your painting is vibrant and charming.

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  7. I really like this. Great take on Van Goghs style and the colors are wonderful...

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  8. You are doing amazing work.
    I too am a fan of Danny Gregory, but can't get myself to do the drawing everyday, hence I'm not getting any better. Having way too much fun with Wyanne, blogging and knitting.

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