Monday, December 12, 2011

Abstract...With Feeling...For Me And Mona Lisa!

         This photograph is entitled Rainy Days and Mondays. It would be the perfect image for today...'if' it was raining like it usually is around here on a Monday! ^_^ But, according to the weather person, it's gonna be dry and clear and in the middle 40s (Fahrenheit), and we're not even gonna get a rain shower until Thursday!...In Massachusetts?...in December?!...Shocking! ^_^
       We are gonna get a little wind...
        Okay....Okay! Let me confess. I've been conducting a little experiment with you. :-) ...I'll tell you about it, but first let me ask you...did you pop over here to my blog because you saw the abstract colors in the rain photo scroll across your 'Friend Connect'?!...And did you get a certain feeling while you were looking at the first or second semi-abstract images above?!
      I'm asking because I watched this movie over the weekend, with Julia Roberts in it, called Mona Lisa Smile.
             It was about a woman who came to teach in a woman's private liberal arts college, Wellesley,...here in Massachusetts,...but the movie was set back in 1953. She came  to teach a course on the 'History of Art'. The theme of the movie was more about the culture toward women at the time. But I was immediately struck by the art course she was teaching!
          The movie talked about art, and why one thing is called 'art' while something similar is not called 'art'! It was fascinating. And I learned a lot!...And it got me to thinking about why certain art pieces make me feel the way I do about them...Wanna know what I learned?!
      I learned that I 'still' don't know why certain art pieces make me feel the way I do about them?!! ^_^ ...It's funny though, I know exactly what I like! I can tell you how it makes me feel...but I don't know why it does! Does that happen to you?!
      Some art is self explainable. At least I think it is!...Like for instance, look at this...
      This artist paints custom portraits of individuals...or pets...from a photograph that they send in!...That's what I call an art! Not only the finished product, but even the ability to look at a person, or pet, and be able to paint them, is artistic!...In the above image you can see that there's an abstract silhouette of the person behind them too...sorta like them looking at themselves in a mirror over their shoulder...WOW! Talk about art!
      But some art is not so defined and precise. Some art is just 'emotion-evoking', but in ways that only the person looking at it can explain...To let you know what I mean, I conducted my own experiment. 
       I went over to Etsy, typed "Blue Monday Art" or "Abstract Monday Art" in the search bar, and just scrolled down...without looking at any of the names of the art pieces...and down-loaded the images that evoked some sort of immediate reaction for me. Here's what I came up with...
        This one made me feel like I usually do on Mondays...like it's been a good weekend, but now I've got to come out of my weekend bubble...back into the blue Monday routine. But hey! it's gonna be good! :-)

       This one made me feel like I do on blue Mondays in the Springtime. Calm...enjoying my backyard...maybe slightly rainy...but not bothered, and not much on my schedule that's pressing to do. :-)

         This one feels like one of those Mondays where the weekend came and went too fast, and I didn't get done as much as I needed to!...With chores in front of me though...it still feels like it was gonna be a good day! :-)

       If you know anything about Poetesswug (me!) at all...this picture is self explanatory. It's flowers!...and it's the best Monday ever!! :-) Can't you see the happiness?! ^_^

        I don't know why, but this picture makes me smile and feel all warm and gooey inside. :-) Maybe it's because it's so colorful...or maybe it's because it looks like warm honey and I haven't had my breakfast yet! LOL But whatever the reason, it doesn't feel like a Monday at all...It feels like a Thursday photo. A Thursday that's anticipating a Friday! LOL

         This one made me wanna take a deep breath, sit back, and just look at it...for hours! :-) I think it's so calming. If I had this one on my bedroom wall I might not get anything done...ever! :-) I think this would be perfect for doctors and dentists to put in their office waiting rooms, don't you?!

        
         Hey! Wait.....
    
        ... ^_^ How did that get in there?!...

           ...That's not abstract art!! LOL...

          And then again......! :-] It is to me!! (This is the new scarf I'm working on right now I made it with the colors of the latest fingerless gloves. I'm gonna list them in the shop tomorrow.)

         This is how I'm feeling today...Yes, it's a blue Monday, but I'm so not feeling 'Monday'....I'm feeling 'Happy'!! Can't you see me in the picture, with my arms out-stretched ready to give everybody a hug?! My whole head is one BIG...yep! I'm officially a big head! LOL...happy flower!
     And while the blue of Monday is trying to take a hold of me, I'm holding it off with some backyard 'calming' green! :-) And yes...there's gonna be all kinds of movement in the house today....fingers and brain cells will be flying!! :-) ...I'm feeling so good today that I think I could make 'Mona Lisa smile'! :-)
      So, did any of these images evoke emotions in you?!...Are you smiling, upset, sad, giddy?!...Blame it on art! And art teachers! :-) ...And to all teachers, whether you're teaching art or math or life...THANK YOU!!!...And to all of you blog followers, don't forget to enter the headband Giveaway...and have a good Monday!!!......Make it abstract and wonderful! :-)

About My Teachers

Let me tell you about my teachers!
Those who let my spirit fly.
Those who taught me self-control.
Those who always made me try.

My music teacher, small in size,
whose unsung words would sometimes sting;
He taught humility and patience,
while also teaching me to sing.

My English teacher, gregarious,
whose toothy smile was just as loud;
She taught me confidence and joy,
and to be fearless in a crowd.

My drama teacher, A or E,
from her I earned my hardest grade.
It was for letting out a scream.
From which I learned: 'Be Not Afraid'.

For basketball, and also Gym,
My coach would train us like a nut!
And though we lost, most every time,
I learned to try, no matter what.

I learned to cater and to waitress
from a crew who taught me well.
In fact, so many new experiences
that I now can hardly tell.

My Bible teacher too,
taught me how 'I must forgive';
And by teaching me God's laws,
also taught me how to live.

To my teachers, one and all,
bold, soft-spoken, shy or tough,
Thanks for teaching me the knowledge
that being 'me' is good enough!     

16 comments:

  1. I enjoyed your blog Debbie. Thanks so much for posting my painting and for mentioning my custom portraits! Those were such kind words that you wrote :) I actually have Mona Lisa Smile on my DVR but I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I'm looking forward to it. I like your style of writing and enjoyed reading your reactions to the different Blue Monday Art photos. Derfla - www.derfla.tv

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  2. Great post, love the photos :) I haven't seen this film, I will have to see it, I do like Julia Roberts :)

    Bee happy x
    Have a delicious day!

    Enter me!

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  3. Kent, Thank you so much for the extremely kind words. :-) It was my pleasure to share your painting. You're very talented!...I'm not a true art connoisseur, but I know what I like. :-] And I like your work!!...Thank you for stopping to leave me such a nice comment. Please come again any time. And keep up the nice work! :-)

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  4. Bee Happy, Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it. I take it you had an emotional reaction to these too! :-) Have a good day, Bee! And you're entered.

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  5. LOVE your blog and the poem is great. I think we all remember our fave teachers. I had some great ones.
    Thanks for posting one of my photos. You have a fabulous selection here.
    Georgia X
    PS Appropriate too as it is pouring with rain here this evening :{

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  6. Georgia, Awww! Thanks! :-) I'm happy you enjoyed it...and I was thankful to have your work to help me...And how right you are about teachers. Where would we be without them?! :-) Keep your umbrella close and have a good rest of the day! :-)

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  7. I loved that movie! Touching! I can't say that I see the same things you do in the art. I'm not much into abstract. Other types of paintings affect me. Some with people, places or just things.
    I'm so happy that it made you smile today though. Smiling and happiness are good for our hearts! Keep that smile on your face!! :)

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  8. CinLynn, It was a good movie, wasn't it! And I saw so many traditional things in that movie that still haven't changed in this area! The whole 'hush, hush' attitude still remains unfortunately. It makes it a challenge for a loud mouth girl from the south! ^_^ By the way, I like art with people, places or just things too. But the abstracts, with the right color and configurations, also catch my attention. It must be an artist's brain thing or something. LOL

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  9. I watched this movie a while back, I like Julia Roberts...these images made me happy! inspired! Have a wonderful week my dear!

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  10. Elisa, Yes, She's a very good actress...I'm so glad the abstracts made you happy too! :-] Art is funny that way. It hits people differently. Apparently it hits you and I the same. :-) You have a good week too!

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  11. What a great selection of art work. I quite like the look of the tree bending in the wind . I also like the flower as well. I think it might look good in my bedroom too :D

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  12. Jo-anne, So I guess I'm not the only one that enjoys abstract art, huh?! ^_^ And if I get a big windfall of money I'm gonna get some of it too!

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  13. Just wanted to say hi. Home from the hospital that is why I have not commented for a while. Hope everything is good for you. Sue

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  14. Susan, Hi! Nice to see you!...Hospital?!! :-( Is everything okay?!

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  15. I'm more flattered than I can say! And I *love* the other works you picked. What a great blog post to put a sunshiny spin on my day. Mahalo for sharing some awesomeness!

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  16. Amber Sloan, Awwwww! Thank you so much for the nice words! And, sincerely, it was my pleasure to share them!! :-)

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