Vermeer in Vancouver, but not for long!

There's still time to catch the show of Dutch paintings featuring Vermeer at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Well worth a road trip, ferry ride, or train trek.

Vermeer, Rembrandt, and the Golden Age of Dutch Art

Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum

May 10 - September 13

The Essential Vermeer is an excellent, comprehensive guide to the everything about the painter, with a complete catalog of his work you can browse through and read about. This painting, called The Love Letter, is featured in the Vancouver show.

Here's a coincidence: just this morning I posted about my own painting called Love Letter (To Mondrian) on my website journal. I had no idea Vermeer's image would pop up when I googled the show in British Columbia...

Perhaps love is in the air?

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Image:

Johannes Vermeer

The Love Letter

(De liefdesbrief)

c. 1667-1670

Oil on Canvas

17 3/8 x 15 1/8" (44 x 38.5 cm)

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Ignore Everybody

Hugh McLeod is a nut. That's what makes him sane. Buy his book.

It's a smart, sharp kick in the pants for all our best starved, stalled, or stifled ideas.

Check in to Hugh's blog for the cartoon of the day.

Ice drawings and hamburgers

It was a beautiful day, not windy, not too hot, perfect for Mike and Cathy Casteel's summer art party at their gorgeous home on Vashon Island. The ferry ride  brought that sea air smell, and the drive through the winding, hilly roads made me want to ride my bike.

At the party, I met a number of local artists whose names I've heard - Claire Cowie, Lisa Buchanan, Tom deGroot, Mark Bennion, and Hans Nelsen among them. It was a treat to not only have a conversation with an artist about their work, but then get to visit pieces of their work hanging in the house. Cathy and Mike have built a substantial collection. What I love is that their personalities and genuine excitement about collecting art for the pleasure of it come through in every selection they have made. 

Actual art-making occurred when someone handed Claire and Leo's two year old daughter, Tabitha,  an ice cube to cool off her hot feet on the patio and she immediately started drawing with it. I joined in. If you want one of our creations, you'll have to hire us for a performance. Or make your own...

The hamburger was another highlight, I've been craving one all week. Followed by fresh berry compote on a biscuit, with a brownie on the side. Yum.

Thanks to Cathy and Mike for their generous hosting and for sharing the sublime view and day with all of us. Happy summer.