dimanche 4 décembre 2011

3 books, a coffee grinder, keys and a bell

(Long post today - I will totally understand if you skip the words and look at the images only : ) !! I do that when I "read" Elle... )
I've got the internet again, and to my great surprise, I didn't really suffer from the lack of it - I was too busy to be bored, I think... I had it at work and it was almost enough.


Always time enough to read books, though. That's like breathing, I can't live without it!
On the left is Women who run with the wolves, by Clara Pinkola Estès. I've been reading it on and off for years. I like it, but I'm not sure I really get it. Maybe I will, in the long run.

I didn't like the illustration, until I tried to draw it. It's a Picasso painting and I don't like Picasso very much, generally. But it's funny, I started to feel really moved by these women and their ample body as I tried to follow their lines and feel the movement. That made me want to try with other artworks I don't get, see if it happens again. Because I love this painting now, I feel both the vulnerability and the power in these women, and I think they're beautiful, and this came only from reproducing them.

In the middle is a book by Arto Paasilinna, a Finn author I like a lot. I didn't like this one much, though, it was more a history of Finland, and not as fun as his usual novels.
On the right is a story that's hard to describe. I was attracted by what was written on the cover, I knew I needed to read it. It could be translated like this : "the little girls at the end of the road do you justice and they keep the fire." It's about women, rape, and fitting (or not). It's disturbing, , hard, often poetical, and it touched me like I knew it would because of those words.
The book title is translated (in french) from a poem by Voltairine de Cleyre called "We are birds of the coming storm". (I didn't know that poet at all, she wrote it in memory for the Haymarket Square martyrs, which I didn't know about either).


A few things I drew from my new place, which is nice, even if I don't have a kitchen yet, and some water damage in my living-room. But I'm so glad to have left the old place, I don't care (yet).
I even invited friends for Thanksgiving, and it was the first time I celebrated that, for it's not a tradition in France. But I've always loved the idea behind Thanksgiving, and I feel grateful to have moved at last, so we had a great microwave dinner! I'll do better next year, when I have a kitchen...

The coffee grinder in the drawing, I use to grind black pepper, it's a lot more tasty that way!

And I have a garden! It's very small, made of bad earth and rocks, and I'm learning that small is good, when you have to dig hard ground and break stones all over the place. Small feels very big, suddenly.

Now I'll shut up, and I'm going to have a look at everyone's blogs, now, I guess I missed a lot!

11 commentaires:

nanke's stuff a dit…

LOL ... I often skip some of the narrative on blogs and try (not always with success), to keep mine sort of short. But I always read all of yours - they never fail to interest me. Very nice depictions of the covers! Oh, and I'm right there with you re. Women Who Run with the Wolves! nancy

rrARTz a dit…

your use of bright colors and details always make me smile!

Anonyme a dit…

Love seeing your choice of books - hope the new place is big enough to accommodate them all!
Sue

Anonyme a dit…

Enjoyed the post. I am so pleased that you are happy in your new home. You will get the garden sorted and then you will have a new hobby - you will be a gardener as well as an artist!

Dan Kent a dit…

I read every word. Fun and varied post. I think it is fascinating that you understood and grew to love the Picasso after duplicating it. How interesting.

Love the colors you chose for the items in your new place. The drawing has a quaint quality to it. Really cool.

Congrats on your new place.

Bei Price a dit…

Lovely sketch and I enjoyed reading your post. I'm happy for you that your new place is much more enjoyable and that you enjoyed a happy Thanksgiving!

Ann a dit…

It's good to hear that you are happy in your new place. I also found it interesting to read your response to the Picasso painting after having reproduced it. And I have a coffee grinder just like that! It belonged to my great grandmother. I don't use it though, it's just decoration now. Your sketches are wonderful as always!

Cathy Holtom a dit…

I like the coffee grinder! I often lose my internet connection and find it's a good opportunity to get all my jobs done1
Glad you like your new place.

Carin Winkelman a dit…

I do so love how you keep drawing/painting what you read. These are again wonderful. And I'm glad the new place is agreeing with you.

Timaree a dit…

I enjoyed your commentary. It made sense out of the pictures. That is a very interesting idea on drawing to understand the painting you didn't understand before. I started Estes' book but it was a bit too "out there" for me.

I am glad you are enjoying your new home and yes, Thanksgiving can be celebrated anywhere even with a microwave!

Anonyme a dit…

I did read Women who run with the wolves about 15, 20 years ago? I liked it then very much.

I love the colors of your drawings.