There are some things in life that make your soul do a little leap for joy. Still Life paintings and Dutch Interior paintings do that to me. I love the way everyday life and things are somehow magnified to be noticed and seen for the first time, with new eyes. I love the design element to the still life paintings how a group of related or sometimes unrelated items are grouped and arranged. The different textures of the linen, the fruit, the lead crystal and the pewter vying for attention, it really does please my eye.
The above images are from
www.tate.org.uk and
www.essentialvermeer.com.
What also pleases my eye are the many wonderful still life style photographs taken by clever bloggers and photographers. They may not be able to paint like Jan Vermeer but with digital technology and a bit of creative flair, they can certainly make my heart sing! I have put together some wonderful examples that I found on
tumblr. See if you agree with me.
Just stunning aren't they! There are some very talented people in this blogland of ours. I am so grateful for the constant inspiration and joy that I find. I have been like a little squirrel hoarding and collecting and gathering my 'nuts' my nuggets of inspiration and beauty and ideas, and now is the time to start putting some of these ideas, projects and schemes into action. I plan to be busy over the coming months, decorating, cooking, crafting, making plans to move my business on. I will keep you posted. I know you are all busy with plans of your own. Have a great week, and a warm welcome to my new followers and my old ones too! Love Linda x
Hi Linda. Sounds as if you have a busy time coming up! I agree with you, all those images from tumblr are quite amazing. I shall have to have a go at something like that myself! Hope all is well with you and your little family. Hugs x
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane, yes it would be fun to have a go wouldn't it?
DeleteI love the way you link the Dutch masters and the modern still lifes. That's a wonderful way to learn composition. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThankyou Jen, yes you are right,it is a great way to learn.
DeleteHi Linda
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post with so many incredible and beautiful still life vignettes.
My heart leaped with joy to see you featured "The Milkmaid" by Vemeer. I saw this painting last year, it was on loan to the Metropilitan Museum in New York. What surprised me was how small this painting is, it is only 17 inches by 16 inches.
You have great plans for this year and I will look forward to reading of them.
Wishing you a week full of joy
Helen xx
Hi Helen, how wonderful that you saw 'The Milkmaid' in the flesh and surprising to learn that it is small.Many thanks for your comments.
DeleteBeautiful images! Hope the plans go well! Cx
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Catherine, fingers crossed.
DeleteHello Linda:
ReplyDeleteYes, we agree, these images are all most interesting. There is something very alluring about commonplace and everyday items being captured in an unusual way. It really makes one re-evaluate the things that surround us which we take for granted for most of the time.
How exciting that you are making new plans for your business. These are such very difficult times for businesses everywhere but it is so encouraging to hear that you are making new developments and have new ideas for the future. We wish you every success with your ventures and a prosperous New Year ahead!!
Jane and Lance hello! Yes you are so right about re-evaluating things. Keeping a sense of wonder is what keeps us young!
DeleteMany thanks for your good wishes. Business has been unusually tight this last year so I need to change the way I do things. Here's hoping it works out!
These are so inspiring!!! Looks like January is a creative month for you.
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much Bow Street Flowers, I am starting thr year as I hope to go on!
DeleteDear Linda,
ReplyDeleteThe still lifes you chose are really pretty. I especially like still lifes of food and flowers. When in a museum, these sort of paintings are always among my favourites. It's interesting to see what people used to eat centuries ago and what flowers they had.
I see two painting by Vermeer among your pictures. His home town, Delft, is only 15 minutes away from my house. It's a lovely old town and very much worth a visit.
Have a lovely evening.
Madelief x
Thankyou Madelief, yes I too like the food and flowers, 2 of my great motivators!
DeleteYes I think you have posted about Delft and it would most definitely be on my list of places to go , as I love Vermeer, as well as a pretty place.
Hello dear Linda!
ReplyDeleteI like your new reply feature!
This post is wonderful! I too am captivated by the beautiful still life photography on the blogs. When I first started blogging, I had a little feature on my sidebar to showcase my favorite still life of the week.
You have a good eye. The photos that you have featured in this post are beautiful!
You are much closer to the Dutch masters and The Golden Age, than I. I visited the Rijksmuseum when I was 17. In 1996, we visited The National Gallery in London, the Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre in Paris. I feel very fortunate. I'm not sure that I'll have the chance travel to Europe again.
Did you know that they are remodeling the Rijksmuseum? It will be finished in 2013. I hope you are able to visit there one day!
Thanks for keeping us in touch with art!
~Lynne
[w/L]
Hi Lynne, I am afraid that you Americans put us to shame when it comes to seeing the sites. I haven't been to any of these places! But one day! Thanks for your comments.
DeleteHow right you are -these images are stunning. I've enjoyed looking through them this morning. It sounds like you're excited about your new business direction. Good luck with it Linda, I look forward to hearing your plans.
ReplyDeletex
Hi Beth, thanks for your kind comments. Yes my business has slipped in the years that I've had my daughter, but I need to step things up a bit now1
DeleteLovely Linda, your blog always makes my heart sing! These pictures really are a feast for the eyes..... just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI wish you great success with moving your business forward.
Much love, Abby xx
Hello Abby, thankyou so much you are such a flatterer tee hee!Thanks for your good wishes.
DeleteYou have found a lovely selection of "still life" photographs Linda. It is that combination of the rough with the smooth that works so well for me.
ReplyDeleteSounds like change is on the cards for you too in 2012....best wishes,
Julie x
Hi Julie, many thanks for your comments. Yes I need to go in a slightly different direction now.
DeleteLinda, they are just lovely photos...and they do spur me on to try and improve my photography, rather than relying the the point and shoot method, which I must admit, I have been very lazy in regard to. Good luck with all your endeavours this year, I look forward to seeing the proof of the pudding. Robx
ReplyDeleteRobynne, I am afraid that I am the same. I think I am afraid of the technology! Thanks for your good wishes.
DeleteI enjoyed looking at all those pictures but the ones that made me sit up a bit straighter with the last few with the darker backgrounds- they are truly stunning. Great choices Linda.
ReplyDeleteLiking your 'in-comment' reply feature too - would you mind letting me know how you did that? It's fab! :)
Wendz, thanks so much for your lovely comments. I agree with you about the last pictures, they're special! I would love to say that I cleverly figured out how to do this, but I just changed to the new format and it was on it!
DeleteWhat a beautiful selection.
ReplyDeleteEye warming on the cold winter morning I've awoken to.
And Girl With A Pearl Earring? My favorite.
xo Jane
Beautiful still life inspiration! Oh boy, Linda, you are very busy with your replies :-)
ReplyDeleteOh I do agree about loving still life pictures and Dutch paintings! I have done so for many years, and never tire of them! Love your still life pictures today, very beautiful choices. Have a happy week, Linda.
ReplyDeleteHelen x
Yes, you find the best images. We loved the movie about Vermeer's life, I think it was called "The Pearl Earring".
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these beautiful, calming images. I think my favourite is the sprig of blossom. it captures the essence of what I love about blossom.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the cakes wrapped and tied with string. I wonder if it is the same table as the one with the blossom, created by the same talented person.
And yes, you're right. There are so many talented people around, and it's good also that there are others who appreciate what they do and bring their work to a wider audience.
These are so gorgeous! Love the baguettes and the pretty styling of those little breads wrapped with twine :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful images Linda - there is something so enigmatic about the old still life paintings - a moment in time captured forever, making you wonder what happened before or after, and the lives they led.
ReplyDeleteLove the modern photographic still lifes too - beuatiful in their simplicity.
Good luck with your new business directions for 2012 - you always display a wonderful eye for good design in your blog, as well as such talent with the floral and interior designs that Im sure whatever way you move will bring you success.
Gill xx
Beautiful images.Looking at the fotos you can dream about living in another century.
ReplyDeleteVera
belli i tuoi post e bellissime le tue foto!ciao, Clarissa
ReplyDelete