#O118: This Bright Earth

For the past few paintings I have become aware that purple and light blue is a color that I struggle to utilize in my landscapes – not counting the sky. Looking at the work of Arthur Maderson, for example, I am always impressed at how he uses the full spectrum of color in his paintings.

In this painting, I am taking baby steps toward using a bit more light blue or purple. I am also still working at loosening my style and finding my place between representational and abstract image making.

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One of the most well known Afrikaans South African poets of the previous century is N.P. van Wyk Louw. It is a pity I am an amateur translator. Some of his images keep me spellbound. Here are some of the last verses of his poem “Thoughts, Songs and Prayers of a Soldier”:

...
Perhaps we too shall die
  and tumble backward to the void
for this bright earth
to be darkened into us.

Perhaps later no one 
will know our beauty,
no meaning found
in all our strife and sorrow,

and when we lie helpless
close to death,
will have only this lonely
certainty at last:

that we could not be bent
 in the shape of their violence,
and we could live exulted
true to our blood.

I hope you are happy and content. Thanks for visiting my blog.