i’ve been painting quicky venice studies from google maps. by that i mean i did ONE such study. top left.
somehow i stumbled upon john singer sargent’s venice watercolors. these sloppy messes of mine are hardly worth sharing, but they’re the kinds of work i’m getting up to in my sketchbook lately. a new 8x10ish landscape moleskine. looking at shapes, colors, strokes. not making any pretty pictures just logging some sketchbook miles.
i loved reading what sargent often said when he had finished setting up his paper and palette and was getting ready to begin a new watercolor:
“i can’t do it! it’s unpaintable! well…let’s have a whack at it”
i’m enveloped in a creative torpor since school started. all of my energy stolen by my day job.
dear diana giffin a beloved member of our online art community died unexpectedly a few weeks ago during a routine medical procedure. i’ve had her flickr account linked in my blog links for a very long time. she lived in the wilds of montana, loved animals, sketchbooks, nature, her husband jon, and exchanging letters and mailart with many people. i will miss the thoughtful comments and emails she occasionally sent me. carol and i often mentioned her in passing as someone we would love to meet someday. maybe you knew her or remember her from an online class or mail exchange?
diana’s IG was naturegrl64
i went for a walk at huntington gardens and descanso gardens this weekend. summer heat has kept me from both places for the last couple of months. how good it was to return and see the latest flowers, pods, and growing things.
i saw a large group of deer at descanso including 2 bucks and a fawn nursing his mama! i sat for a long time in perfect stillness and watched them grazing in a clearing in the oak woodland.
in the classroom the kids are getting busy in their sketchbooks.
i know diana would have loved seeing these since she made such a generous contribution for this particular donor’s choose project.
hope you’re well, friends. somewhere out there in the world. readying for a new adventure. laying down for some creative slumber. paddling your little rowboat down a calm stream. reading something captivating. depositing some big thoughts on a page. gazing up at the milky way. boarding a plane. climbing into your car. starting a roadtrip. going somewhere. planning. dreaming.
I just became aware of this tribute. Thank you very much, it would have mean so, so much to her. The world is a lesser place without her.
Sad, sad, sad to hear of Diana’s passing! I met her though one of your classes and loved the photos and updates she shared online. Her wonderful eye with photography as well as the beautiful life she created was endearing and inspiring. I’m am very sad to hear this….
Diana made a huge impact on so many people, some (most?) she never met… her presence will be missed. I LOVED her nature photography.
So sorry to hear of Diana’s passing. I didn’t know her, but your description says volumes. Beautiful work, MAM! ❤️❤️
waving to you sheila xo
“Take a crack at it” — good lord! How did he do the water? It’s practically photographic. (and some of the buildings ditto ditto) By the way, have you read Winston Churchill’s “Painting as Pastime”. It’s an essay.
no, but perhaps i should! i will look it up…
I did not know of Diana, but I am sorry to hear of her passing.
I don’t feel much creative energy when I get home from work, either. I thought it was just me that felt that way. My job is not difficult…I’m just wiped out. Old age? LOL
Such a great loss for all. Diana was a very special person and I will miss her photos on Instagram and her heartfelt letters.. each one an amazing gift. Thanks for honoring her here and for all of your soulful sharing.
she really had a photographer’s EYE didn’t she?
Hi. Your post about your online art friend, Diana, was very sweet. The work the children have done is beautiful. I know you’ll get your rythm back, soon. Kids take a lot of energy and even if you are thinking, planning and looking at potential art making projects, it’s still art in action.
You always inspire me.
Thank you!
Susan K
thanks susan. art in action. not always easy, but ALWAYS necessary.
so sad about your friend, but showing us how her donation is inspiring your students is wonderful
tomorrow….off to Prague/Budapest and then journey along the Danube River….
i have water from the danube resting in a bottle on my bookcase. i remember well the day i collected it! ENJOY that lovely trip holly 🙂
Diana was such a lovely presence in my online life. I will miss her greatly. I will return to her IG frequently to remember her and her love of all things nature and creative.
yes yes yes! me too. i was just there looking at the pics of her dear growing pup.
Oh no! I did know Diana. She was such a lovely, giving person. She’s was one of my customers and an IG friend. Thank you for letting us know.
i’m glad the word is getting out. i hate to think of all who knew and loved her NOT knowing that she is gone.
I also enjoyed following Diana on Instagram-she seemed like such a cool person. I loved her love of animals, nature and gardening. I’m so sorry to hear of her passing.
Dear Mary Ann,
I’m sitting here absolutely floored to hear about our friend Diana. She and I have exchanged many many letters over the past few years, and I am heartbroken to hear this news. Thank you for letting us know. I cannot believe it. I’ll certainly send her husband condolences, and keep her in my thoughts. Hope everything is ok on your end.
All best,
Cortney
really good to hear from those who exchanged letters with diana! i too was shocked when i found out. she was in the prime of life!
I love your posts, your sketches, and your photos! Your sketches are so alive to me. I am just so shocked and saddened to hear about Diana, we followed each other on IG, I will surely miss her.
thank you sharon..
🙏 Sargent’s quote is delightful. Thank you. Love your loose and colorful pages.
So sad to hear about Diana. She touched many lives and will be missed.
No road trips in the near future but enjoying the cool evenings and warm days of Michigan early fall. Already hit the Apple orchard last weekend.
oh a visit to the apple orchard … fills me with pleasure to think of it!
Love the watercolor sketches: john singer sargent’s, yours, the kiddos’. Love the flora and fauna. Love the thoughts about your distant friend. RIP Diana.
yes. rest in peace (and play), diana and in the knowledge that you touched many lives with your sweet gentle nature.
I’m so sorry to read that we’ve lost Diana; this makes me so sad. I’ve followed her for years. Tonight my heart is heavy.
mine is too 🙁