Come one, come all, to the Cambridge Art Association’s Open Studios Launch Party on Thursday May 12th from 6-8 PM. Free and open to the public. Light refreshments and wine will be served. Meet many artists from across Cambridge. Hope to see you there and during the actual Open Studios weekend. I’ll be participating at the Riverside Gallery: https://www.facebook.com/events/993823283988487/
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged art, Cambridge, creativity, Inspiration, open studios, Photography | Leave a Comment »
As I was observing tulip petals, holding them up to the light, I noticed in the tangle of oversprouted peas I have growing at my window, a single pea blossom. Will it bloom? Will a pea pod form? Time will tell. Meanwhile in a moment of whimsy I decided to photograph my blossom against a background of tulip petal. No meaning. No expectation. Just indulgence in curiosity.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged beauty, color, flowers, gardening, indoor gardening, Inspiration, peas, petals, Photography, tulips | 1 Comment »
I continually learn through photography that when beautiful things fall apart – like my bouquet of tulips – that’s when you sometimes find an even greater beauty.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged beauty, colors, flowers, Inspiration, perspective, petals, philosophy, Photography, tulips | 4 Comments »
It can be hard to read a coffee table sized book while sitting on a Boston subway during rush hour. But that’s what I was trying to do after a visit to the library to retrieve the book Nature’s Chaos, a collaboration between photographer Eliot Porter and writer James Gleick. I sat snugly between, on my left, an older African fellow wearing a very puffy and, I’m sure, warm coat. On my right sat a young Chinese boy wearing a very puffy and, I’m sure, warm coat. The little boy kept getting in trouble with his dad because he was a bit hyper.
I’d been waiting a long time for this book. Carefully, very carefully, trying to respect the space of my neighbors, I opened up the book into a narrow V-shape. I figured the text I could read later, but I wanted a peek at Porter’s vast landscapes. I could see a little but not enough. Wider I opened the book. I peered closely at the sweeping patterns in cracked mud and lava flows. There were leaves on water and sunset clouds. As I lost myself in these scenes, perhaps the book fell open wider still because all of a sudden I noticed something.
Now the African gentleman was a bit more subtle but I could tell he was looking at the book with me. He’d adjust his glasses as I turned a page and every now and then he’d bend over slightly, trying to see the cover to find out what in the world I was looking at. The little boy hadn’t learned how to be subtle. He just peered right over my arm. I didn’t bother looking at his dad. I just began pointing out features on the page to the boy. Occasionally I’d drag my finger along a seemingly mundane scene, like orange flowers in a green field or vines on a tree trunk. I’d say softly, “That’s pretty cool, hunh?” His eyes never leaving the page, he’d nod and say softly, “Yeah.”
On the last page, I made a dramatic show of closing the book and saying in a little louder voice, “And that’s it!” The little boy (and the gentleman too I suppose) slid back into his chair. His father whispered to him. The little boy looked up at me.
“Thank you,” he said.
I smiled. “You’re welcome.”
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged curiosity, Eliot Porter, imagination, Inspiration, James Gleick, landscapes, nature, Nature's Chaos, Photography, storytelling | 4 Comments »
You can now find a series of inexpensive blank notebooks in my online bookstore. Simple little books with nature-themed covers that hopefully spark some creativity or inspiration. A bit more elegant than an index card for capturing quick thoughts or a sketch. 🙂 You can actually write in them or collect them for their covers of the New England landscape. Check these and other books out at Books by CStaples.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged blank notebooks, colors, Inspiration, landscape, nature, New England landscape, Photography, writing journals | Leave a Comment »
That was the color the bouquet of tulips appeared to be in the light of the shop. Then once brought home, placed in a vase, and bathed in the light of the sun all of these other colors appeared. An inspiring sight, to say the least.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged beauty, colors, flowers, friendship, gifts, Inspiration, orange, Photography, tulips | 3 Comments »
It must be a sign of the times that as I flipped through Edgar Allan Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination as illustrated by Harry Clarke, I could not help but think what a great adult coloring book these illustrations would make. Perhaps not all of the illustrations … unless you’re into zombies and the Walking Dead. But these scenes from Poe’s short story Morella …
and these from The Colloquy of Monos and Una called to me with their flower and nature imagery. Harry Clarke (1889-1931) is perhaps more widely known for his stained glass work. Whether working with glass or with paper for his book illustrations, I wonder at the sources of his creative vision. I’m not always sure why I am inspired to do something but it sure is fun to take time to explore the possibilities. And to talk with other artists about their influences.
I can’t talk with Mr. Clarke but I am lucky enough to have access to a number of artists in my local community. Stay tuned for future updates about artists and their inspirations.
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged adult coloring books, art, beauty, Edgar Allan Poe, flowers, Harry Clarke, illustration, imagination, Inspiration, nature | 3 Comments »
brazil: banknote showing freed slaves cooking
I am helping to research a bank note collection, mostly paper money from pre-World War Europe as well as other parts of the world. It is a fascinating project especially after the sometimes heated discussions here in the U.S. regarding the $20 bill and the plan to swap out the visage of Andrew Jackson for that of Harriet Tubman. Whichever $20 bill is held in hand in the future, embedded in that money, in the illustration, will be the story of that exchange. It’s the storytelling aspect that excites me about this bank note collection. Gathered over many decades, the notes are like tiny time capsules with regard to artistic expression, economics, history and more. The nature of using money certainly continues to evolve (e.g. don’t carry cash at all, just swipe your phone!), but I expect paper money may be around for awhile. Meanwhile, I’m looking forward to delving into the past and discovering the stories etched in these monies, a few of which are highlighted below.
france: 1940s bank note, image of Pyrenean shepherd
germany: notgeld was emergency money
british armed forces special voucher
u.s. military payment certificate
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes | Tagged art, bank notes, banknotes, collecting, currency, engraving, history, illustration, notaphily, paper money, Photography, storytelling, travel | 4 Comments »
There were nearly as many birdwatchers as baby birds at the Belle Isle Marsh this weekend. And I’m not sure the birds were pleased.
Posted in Branches, Nature Notes | Tagged Belle Isle Marsh, birds, birdwatching, Inspiration, nature, nature photography, Photography | 2 Comments »
Just last night I spoke with a young friend. I’d sent her a greeting card depicting a cat, sleek and gilded and sparkling with jewels. You see, my young friend tends toward attire that also catches the light. She’d had the card framed and was trying to decide where to hang it on her wall. She already had framed a picture of an owl (I can’t remember if I’d sent her that). She asked, do you think the owl and the cat can be placed side by side? do you think they’d get along? I replied in surprise, my dear! have you never heard of the owl and the pussycat? She hadn’t. She asked, what’s the gist? I told her that I’d share the poem in full in a while but for now it was quite alright, indeed quite wonderful, for the owl and the pussycat to be close on her wall.
The Owl and the Pussycat was first published in 1871 by Edward Lear. A poem once often told and memorized in schools. A nonsense poem that sparked the imagination. Prequels have been written, and sequels, and many a reinterpretation. I’m not sure that the original is shared as often as it used to be. As National Poetry Month wraps up, read the poem for yourself on the Poetry Foundation website. And here is unique interpretation of the story available as a print at LangosyArts.
The Owl and the Pussycat Print by Zoe Langosy
Posted in Inspiration | Tagged art, collage, creativity, Edward Lear, friendship, humor, illustration, Inspiration, Langosyarts, National Poetry Month, poetry, The Owl and the Pussycat, Zoe Langosy | 2 Comments »
Words + Images 