R's rue

Paul Gauguin – "Women of Tahiti" or "On the Beach" – 1891 It was in April 1891 when Paul Gauguin set sail for Tahiti. He had just broken up with his Danish wife and was in search of something new and vibrant that could inform his painting. He thought he might find it in  faraway Tahiti. He was forty three years old. The painting shown above was created a couple of months after his arrival. Two Polynesian women are sitting on the beach with Pacific Ocean rollers behind them. The woman on the right appears to be weaving strands of coconut palm. The two figures seem somehow separate, distant from each other. It is a quiet, reflective moment without words. In 1892, Gauguin painted a very similar canvas which is titled  "Parau Api". It was as if this particular composition had remained with him and required further exploration. During his life, Gauguin befriended Vincent van Gogh and was also close to Pissaro and Degas. The long sojourn in Tahiti cemen...

God Almighty what a palava over frigging Christmas cards Lighten up from Going Gently https://ift.tt/3JoQukQ

 This holiday has been an eye opening experience. I’ve had to be fully present to be in the Presence.  I’ve savored silence so I can relish in the noise. There is a gratitude for so much, I can explain. And much that I cannot. I still have concerns, but I’m slowly releasing my need for an answer. Much of life I can’t formulate a response. That’s why I have to turn to the Greatest mystery yet the certain truth of life. I’ve never fully appreciated what a gift it is, to express emotions in this way. The written word. Every time I type, I get giddy anticipating your response. Thank you for being here for me and with me. I’m beyond grateful. Thank you.  from R's rue https://ift.tt/3evzxqW

Syria today:Aida al-Hassan, 44, poses for a photo at Sarjableh   ©Khalil Ahawai (Reuters) I admit that I am a newsaholic. It's not something I am especially proud of but at every opportunity I check out the news - be it on this computer, via our various radios, in newspapers or on the television.  Over decades I have devoted far too much attention to the news, absorbing it like human blotting paper. That's a lot of time, a lot of concentration and a lot of mental energy that could have been devoted to better things like my own writing, reading for enjoyment or painting. I am a slave to the news and just cannot break the habit. One thing I have noticed about the news is its transient nature. Newsworthy issues crop up, blossom for a while and are then summarily ditched - even though the original matters that attracted the spotlight may not have been resolved. In fact, things may have progressed or worsened. The cameras and the journalists often appear to  have mov...