The Last Leaves

Winter sky, clouds and the last leaves on my tree.

Winter sky, clouds, my tree and an aeroplane? I think, top right of pic ...

The last leaves
of Winter
now russet in hue
linger on
Shining against
a sky of cool blue
catching the warmth
of the sun's dying rays
waiting for that calling song
of Winter's coldest breeze
To be swept along
on a merry dance
being swirled about
leaving life to chance
without any doubt
To be swept away
and scattered afar
and finally to rest . . .
completing this cycle of life
But a new beginning awaits
in Nature's Earthly plan . . .

Prose and Images: Dianne D. ♥

Do Not Forget Me

Do not forget me
when the chill of Winter
steals away the warmth
from your heart
But think of me
as you look
into the flames
of a warming fire
Imagine I am there
as the blanket of night
shuts away the sun
and brings the stars to light
As I lay beside you
all vulnerable and exposed
the glow of flames
upon my softest skin
the fire's light
reflected in my eyes
It's warmth brings colour
to my cheeks
and a blush of softest pink
to my lips that long
for your kiss
Please remember me
as I reach out to you
with the softest embrace
and you look upon my face . . .

Poem by Dianne D. ♥

Painting: Sea Serpent IV - Gustav Klimt - 1907

Be Patient ...

Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language.
Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now.
Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.

Rainer Maria Rilke - Letters to a Young Poet

Image from 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' BBC 2008 adapted from the novel by Thomas Hardy

Monet's Giverny - An Impressionist Colony

'House of Monet' 1873 - Claude Monet - French Impressionist Painter - 1840 - 1926

'Summer, Giverny' 1910 - Alson Skinner Clark - American Painter - 1876 - 1949
Private Collection

'Garten in Giverny' c.1890 John Leslie Breck - American Painter - 1860 - 1899

'Giverny Garden' c.1890 Philip Leslie Hale - American Impressionist Painter - 1865 - 1931
Private Collection

'A Stream Beneath Poplars' c. 1890-1900 Lilla Cabot Perry - American Painter 1848 - 1933

Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart P. Feld.

'Early Winter Landscape' 1908 Frederick Carl Frieseke - American Impressionist 1874 - 1939

Private Collection

'View Through The Studio Window, Giverny' c. 1899-1901 -
Mary Hubbard Foote
American Painter 1872 - 1968 John Pence Gallery, San Francisco

Claude Monet's home at Giverny became an Impressionist colony which attracted many artists from various countries.
The paintings I have posted here, apart from the first image are all works by American painters, this is just a small example of the paintings which were inspired by the landscape at Giverny. I think you will agree that they are all very beautiful and painted by talented artists.
I have not been able to source some of these works from the Internet as they belong to private collectors so I have had to research my art books. I'm not in favour of great works of art being in private collections unless the original painting or a print is available for public display . . . I feel that these great works of art should be here for all to see, not just the privileged and wealthy.
It is unclear when the first American artists visited Giverny, and uncertain too, what motivated that initial visit, it is estimated that the year was around 1874 ... ♥

Impressionism From a Female Perspective

'In the Garden at Maurecourt' - 1884

'Thatched Cottage in Normandy' - 1865

'Hide and Seek' - 1873

'Girl In a Boat with Geese' - 1889

'In a Park' - 1874

'Fall Colours in Bois de Bologne' or 'Conversation' - 1888 - Water Colour
(There seems to be some confusion as to the title of this painting so I have included both)

'A Corner of the Rose Garden' - 1885

'Young Woman in an Evening Dress' - 1879

'The Cheval Glass' - 1876

'Summers Day' - 1879

'The Cradle' - 1872

Berthe Morisot - French Impressionist Painter - 1841 - 1895

When I started the research for this post I was both delighted and amazed at the versatility and talent of this French female Impressionist artist. Her work is superb, she covers subjects from landscape, seascape, portraiture, gardens, family and everyday life with her beautiful palette of colours, textures and attention to detail . . . from the sheerness of the netting on a babies cradle to a small white flower amongst the green grass in a park.
I have included just a small selection of her paintings, I wanted to add more but there is not enough space here, so please do a Google image search of the paintings of Berthe Morisot for yourself and view so much more of her wonderful art.
There is a link to more information about this artist which will tell you more about her life and her art, much more than I can fit into this small space.
Please click onto all of the images to enlarge them for a more detailed view.

♥