Brian’s Reflection: Sat/Sun, Sept 6/7, 2008
Painting: “Beautiful World”, by Grandma Moses
Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.
- Grandma Moses, artist, born on this day,
1860, in New York State
Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson) took up painting at age 75, primarily because her arthritis had gotten so bad that she couldn’t do her needlepoint. As she said, "If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens." By age 79, she had three pictures shown at the Museum of Modern Art. At her death at age 101, she had painted over 1600 pictures, some 250 after the age of 100. She is certainly a perfect example of the words I’ve quoted!
On the whole, I agree with her. Oh, there are all kinds of resources one can access, on all levels. We don’t have to do it “on our own”. And of course it depends on what we want our Life to be. But if we want to be content, if we want to be free, if we want to be creative, this is essentially up to us. These are inner states. And Grandma is right. Life is what we make it. It’s the old If Life gives you lemons, make lemonade thing.
Grandma Moses’ paintings are simple. Simplicity in all things is, I’m beginning to realize, a great gift one gives to oneself.
Brian+
Painting: “Beautiful World”, by Grandma Moses
Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.
- Grandma Moses, artist, born on this day,
1860, in New York State
Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson) took up painting at age 75, primarily because her arthritis had gotten so bad that she couldn’t do her needlepoint. As she said, "If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens." By age 79, she had three pictures shown at the Museum of Modern Art. At her death at age 101, she had painted over 1600 pictures, some 250 after the age of 100. She is certainly a perfect example of the words I’ve quoted!
On the whole, I agree with her. Oh, there are all kinds of resources one can access, on all levels. We don’t have to do it “on our own”. And of course it depends on what we want our Life to be. But if we want to be content, if we want to be free, if we want to be creative, this is essentially up to us. These are inner states. And Grandma is right. Life is what we make it. It’s the old If Life gives you lemons, make lemonade thing.
Grandma Moses’ paintings are simple. Simplicity in all things is, I’m beginning to realize, a great gift one gives to oneself.
Brian+
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