Today I’m sharing a selection of art and words that are beautiful, inspiring and represent ‘elevated living’ to me. I hope you find something you like here too…
“I am an excitable person who only understands life lyrically, musically, in whom feelings are much stronger as reason. I am so thirsty for the marvellous that only the marvellous has power over me. Anything I can not transform into something marvellous, I let go. Reality doesn’t impress me. I only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, I escape, one way or another. No more walls.”
― Anaïs Nin
I own these serigraph prints by the wonderful Itzchak Tarkay, the one on the left is my favourite and was also painted on by the artist who sadly died in June 2012
“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”
― Vincent van Gogh
‘Stella with a Flowered Hat’ by Dutch artist Kees van Dongen hangs in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin & is breathtaking..
“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one”
― Stella Adler
This beautiful painting ‘A Fair Day, Mayo’ by my favourite artist Jack Butler Yeats is the most expensive Irish painting ever sold at €1 million in 2011. See some of his work at the National Gallery in Dublin (adm is free) and sometimes at the Model Niland Gallery in Sligo.
“I must be a mermaid. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”
― Anaïs Nin
“There is no time for cut-and-dried monotony. There is time for work. And time for love. That leaves no other time.”
I’m the happy owner of these two seriolithograph prints, ‘Annabelle’ & ‘Robe de Soir’ by painter Linda Le Kniff…
“Stories do not end.”
― Anaïs Nin
The richly coloured final embrace of ill-fated lovers by Irish artist Frederic William Burton hangs in the National Gallery and is a popular spot for marriage proposals
“The inner fire is the most important thing mankind possesses.”
― Edith Södergran
Beautiful, peaceful, inspirational ‘Falling Garden’ installation by Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger
“There are two ways to reach me: by way of kisses or by way of the imagination. But there is a hierarchy: the kisses alone don’t work.”
More than 100 ethereal paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar’ were hung inside the Abbey church of Saint-Riquier in France…
― Pablo Picasso
I love the work of Salvador Dali, Owen loves Monet. Obviously he understands a hell of a lot more than me though! We only paid for one guided tour when in Florence and I learned so so much, it really stood to me for all the other galleries we were in, I could pick put the era even!!! We are for Dublin tomorrow and thinking what to do for the morning (Euan finishes school at 2) and I think a trip to the National Gallery may be in order-thanks for the idea!!!
There’s a new exhibition of Yeat’s sketch books running at the moment, jealous am I?…YES : )