Artistic Inspiration... Arthur Hughes

You are looking at yet another English Painter and illustrator associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Arthur Hughes, 1832-1915. Here's a website devoted to him. Enjoy the beauty of his work. Notice all that gorgeous red hair, the flowing robes and lush greenery and the story telling.

Labor Day

Labor Day - the day that we celebrate that we have work by ceasing from our labors. What a great day!

I remember when I was a young girl, I used to go to the Labor Day picnic at Terrace Lake in New Jersey. Terrace Lake was a small puddle really in Pompton Plains (I think) owned by our little church denomination. The Labor Day picnic was the one day that those who were not members could enjoy the park's facilities. Membership was quite costly and I remember that we could not afford the steep $60 a year membership plus parking fees for visits. How I always wished I could go there. Once in a while someone would find it in their heart to gift us a membership and we could make it out there and hang with our friends.

I have so many good memories of those times.... turkish taffy, cotton candy, the big water slide and skimming across the water. The water slide seemed to be about 50 feet high and there was always a long row of people perched on the steep ladder, one on top of the other. It would probably be an insurance liability these days but then, it was just good clean fun. I do have to admit I was always sure that my wet hands would slip off the bar and that I would go plummeting to my death on the pavement below with plenty of horrified onlookers. Even once you got to the top, you quickly had to decide if you would go down on your stomach or behind, or for the brave backwards. As you launched your body off of the steep 90 degree slope, you had no time to think before you would go crashing into the water, skimming the top as far as you could. The great cloud of witnesses would ooh and aah at your bravery and athletic finesse. As I think about it now, I marvel that my mom let us all go down that slide. Then again, those were the days of sitting in the back of station wagons and skiing and riding bikes without helmets. It was so much more fun!

I remember how I looked forward to this day every year. It was the last day of summer and an introduction to the first day of fall.

The most fun was perhaps seeing friends for the first time after the LONG summer break (funny how it seemed so endless back then). I always wanted to wear some of my new fall clothing but it was usually too warm. Once in a while it rained and I found that most distressing as the festivities would be canceled or cut short.

Eventually we stopped going. After a while they stopped having the picnics - they were probably too much work and less and less people were getting involved. Although I remember visiting the park once in a while in High School as  'guest' of a friend, I think that soon after that the facility was no longer able to remain open due to financial constraints.

How many of us have memories like that of childhood? It's those times that give us cozy feelings that remain with us deeply for years. If we reach back into our memories, the good senses flood out and fill us with joy. Hopefully we are building those pleasures into the lives of our children and into our own lives.

I'm not really one for rituals in a way. I tend to be spontaneous and always enjoy the new and exciting - however, I am finding that there are some silly things that I do consistently. For instance, I enjoy sitting in the same seat at my dining room table. When I visit my favorite beach (which pretty much has become the only beach that I want to visit), I sit on the same rock in the same place. If I go to the little shack there to get food - I order the same clam chowder or the same flavor of ice cream. Even though I live "out of the box", it seems that I have willingly "boxed" myself in... it's all good of course, because it's what I enjoy.

Labor Day marks the end of summer for us. Some are happy about that, some are not! Some people had a great, busy relaxing summer while others worked their way through as though it never existed. There is something in all of us that wants to milk the "lazy days of summer" to their fullest. A few years ago when I was living on a mountain lake in New Hampshire this is what we did. I remember the days of sitting with all my friends on our private beach while our kids swam in the water for endless hours a day and we shared laughs and lives. These are friendships that I will value forever! When summer ended, we knew we had made the most of it - weather permitting...  Even then we would all run to the beach in a week in October when we'd get one more blast of indian summer to get us through the long, harsh winter.

Today we grab whatever we can and prepare to hunker down with life again. It's time to get serious and be scheduled. No more running to the beach for sunsets every night... there is homework to be done and work is a priority now. Senior Portraits are in full force and the gym is calling my name. Routine and schedule are in, staring at the surf are out.

There will be good times ahead, but they will be stolen moments in my structured days... until next summer when I once again get to play without pause.

So people, enjoy your day!!! It's good for the soul!

The Last Dance....

You are looking at Renoir's Dancing images. Today is the last day of their exhibit at the MFA in Boston. I've enjoyed viewing them over the past few months. The MFA owns the one on the left, which happens to be my favorite. If you are in the Boston area, you may want to run in and see them today or else, enjoy them right here for a moment.

As many of you know, I used to go into Boston on Mondays with my oldest daughter while she volunteered at the New England Aquarium. I used that day as my "artist date". I fear that I won't be going in as much anymore but I will continue to occasionally venture in. If you are not a member of your local art museum - consider membership, it is well worth the effort. There's a great wealth of artistic inspiration there for you! This year I have a card that lets me in to around 600 museums around the country! yippee!!

Here are a few more Pierre Renoir paintings for your enjoyment.

Artistic Inspiration... William Holman Hunt

Above is the work of William Holman Hunt, yet another of our original organizers of the pre-raphaelite brotherhood. The Pre-Ralph's were objecting to what they felt was a stale, boring, formula-driven mode of art education at the Royal academy at the time. Their drive was to go back to realism and and art that was more true to nature.

If you are interested in learning more about the brotherhood there is a BBC mini-series available called "Desperate Romantics". Honestly, it didn't hold my attention as I thought it would. Sometimes artist movies get caught up in their lifestyles more than the formation of their art... which is the part that I enjoy.

Anyway, back to good old William Holman Hunt. Seems he has his own secrets. Check out this article about him changing the face of his painting from his former wife to his current lover. Have to love the passion of an artist!

Yesterday I spoke a bit about the account of Ophelia, Lizzie Siddall in the bathtub. Here is a small snippet from "Desperate Romantics".

Just Do It!

We are almost done with our 30 days encouragement challenge! How almost done - I'm not sure because I pay no attention to dates! ha ha. But at any rate - I think I've run out of things to say about encouragement.... so today my topic is... JUST DO IT!

Make encouraging others a habit. Do it in your sleep. Do it in your dreams. Do it in the shower (to yourself) and the mirror, and the car...  Do it all the time.

If someone comes down in a new outfit, tell them how beautiful or sharp they look! If someone goes to the beauty salon - tell them you like their hair, or at the very least, acknowledge that they went.

Tell people they look great - compliment whatever it is that you can. Encourage them! "LIKE" things they say on Facebook. It's encouraging just to know that someone you care about it "watching you". Send them a note or letter telling them how much they mean to you or thanking them for what they've done.

They say 30 days makes a new habit... so you are all encouragers now!

Keep praying... keep loving... keep the hope alive...

Have a great Holiday weekend!

Anne

Artistic Inspiration... John Everett Millais

John Everett Millais is another of the pre-Raphaelite brothers. You can study more about him here. 
Or view one of his largest collections on line... here.

Here is a little interesting story for you. Ophelia (the one in the waters) is modeled by Lizzie Siddal, Dante Rossetti's muse, lover and first wife.

“Miss Siddal had a trying experience whilst acting as a model for Ophelia. In order that the artist might get the proper set of the garments in water and the right atmosphere and aqueous effects, she had to lie in a large bath filled with water, which was kept at an even temperature by lamps placed beneath. One day, just as the picture was nearly finished, the lamps went out unnoticed by the artist, who was so intensely absorbed in his work that he thought of nothing else, and the poor lady was kept floating in the cold water till she was quite benumbed. She herself never complained of this, but the result was that she contracted a severe cold, and her father wrote to Millais, threatening with an action of 50 lbs. for his carelessness. Eventually the matter was satisfactorily compromised. Millais paid the doctor’s bill, and Miss Siddal, quickly recovering, was none the worse for her cold bath.” — The son of the artist, John Guille Millais, describing the incident.

What artist's won't go through to get a painting or a photograph!

Pre-Ralphaelites to be continue.....

Positive verses Negative Encouragement

This month we have been working on our "encouragement" skills. It's been a great opportunity to hone in our encouragement abilities by "liking" things on Facebook and sending people encouraging words via messages. We've practiced doing things for others, acts of kindness and service. We've talked about prayer and the positive encouragement that it can have on others without them even knowing that you are doing it. We've also spoken about different personalities and how each personality can compliment each other and bring encouragement through their differences.

Today I've been thinking of the topic of positive verses negative encouragement. All of the above have been aspects of positive encouragement. They give the other warm fuzzy feelings, or surges of gratitude. They let others know that they are not alone. They help people feel good about themselves and what they are doing. I know I feel great when people say "Wow, I really like your art". Because my art is an extension of myself, I feel affirmed.

Is there such a thing as negative encouragement? Sounds like an oxymoron to me.  Let's start with the definition of encourage. "To instill, impart or call to courage".  To encourage is "to give support, confidence or hope" or also "to give advice".  We can do this by nurturing, building up, protecting or correcting.

We understand negative encouragement in another way... constructive criticism. When we give someone constructive criticism it is usually given with kind intention to help someone improve an area in their life. We give it because we genuinely care about the other and want the best for them.

Constructive criticism is very helpful in a teacher/student relationship or a mentor relationship. We have entered this relationship with the intent to either learn or teach. It's helpful to have someone who is better than you at a skill, impart their knowledge to you. Sometimes it hurts, but both parties understand that it's part of the relationship.

Parent/ child relationships are also times when constructive criticism can be doled out. We are taught to "train up our children". Sometimes that means positive strokes and other times that means discipline.

In churches we speak of "accountability partners". It is a relationship that people enter into with the understanding that they can basically "judge" each other's actions and hold each person to the behavior which is recommended in scripture. It's usually used as a chance to grow.

Another example is a sponsor relationship in an AA group. One person has come in to say "help me" and the sponsor is there to help.

Here's the trick. Not everyone is receptive to constructive criticism. For some people, what is meant to encourage can be very discouraging. They may shrink back or give up. A person's spirit is a tender thing. We want to build up a soul, not damage it.

Here are some things to keep in mind when using "negative encouragement".

1) Don't be too harsh. Sprinkle it with the positive. Tell people the good that they are doing. Praise both their efforts AND their accomplishments!

2) Your relationship and level of trust with that person sets the stage. If the person receiving the "encouragement" feels valued by you then they are more apt to be receptive to what you have to say.

3) Do not set yourself up as "judge" or "expert" unless they see you in that way. There are too many people appointing themselves as 'guardian' of other people's behavior. I especially see this in churches. We have a 'guidebook' and so we judge other's behavior by the do's and don'ts in a proud fashion. Don't be a pharisee. Stay humble!

3) Make sure that you are doing this for their own good.... really. Make sure you don't have an ulterior motive or want to hurt them in any way.

4) Use questions instead of statements. Have the person look at themselves and evaluate their own behavior with some pointed guidance on your part. The more a person is involved in their changes, the more they will be able to own it.

5) Only use when necessary. Most people grow better in a positive environment. Love covers a multitude of sins. When people feel affirmed, they want to be better people. A child given trust and responsibility, wants to earn their parents respect. If they are beaten down with your "help" they may be crushed and turn in the opposite direction. Nobody wants to be controlled....ever. Being constantly reminded of what they are doing wrong or monitored on their behavior usually has counter-productive results. Pointing out the negative facts about what someone is doing wrong is easier.... but is it productive?

The best way to lead is to "take someone by the hand" and walk with them in all their joys and triumphs. We are all on this road together. Don't use negative encouragement where the positive will work. Always ere on the kind side unless absolutely necessary.

Remember, encouragement is about building up, not tearing down. Build each person up in love... it's good for the soul!