A Summer Evening with Twombly

Over the years how many artists do we encounter and fall into a deep, passionate love of their works?  Whether old masters or contemporary painters, I'm sure we have many -- or perhaps only a few that evoke such devotion.  For me, there are a few: Frankenthaler, Rothko, Turner, Inness, Matisse, Mitchell, Diebenkorn . . . 

. . . and Cy Twombly was one.  Only last month I stumbled on a wonderful short clip on YouTube -- Cy Twombly: the Lepanto Cycle -- of an exhibit of his work in Germany.  I replayed it over and over just to gaze upon the massive canvases, to listen to the amazing soundtrack that seemed to float and carry Twombly's images across the screen, a composition by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.  Twombly created these twelve paintings for the 2001 Venice Biennale. 

The other evening while sitting in the garden watching flowers dance in the soft evening light, I was reminded of Twombly and decided to pay my humble respect --

poppies

watercolor, gouache, charcoal

profusion

watercolor, gouache, charcoal

A recent issue of RA carried a wonderful article about the exhibition of Twombly and Poussin at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, a combination that at first strikes one as a bit odd -- but it intrigues the imagination, without a doubt.

august evening

watercolor & gouache

There shall be eternal summer

in the grateful heart.  

~Celia Thaxter

May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you. 
a Celtic blessing