Van Gogh underscores the notion that the only vaild purpose of art is to make life more bearable.

Thank you for reminding us that art is necessary and not a choice for some of us.

Happy Birthday Vincent!!! For all those who did not value you...soo many today do....we are all artists...understanding your need to create...no matter what!

Every time I get discouraged with very business of art, or hear those little voices in my head that tells me "You're no good...why are you doing this...you should be cleaning..or doing something constructive with your time.." on and on...I think of Vincent. Creating...driven...no matter the weather....only sold one piece during his life....totally rejected by most...cherished by a few....he still drove on..creating. He is my touchstone. A pure artist.

Thank you Vincent.

One of my favourites of all time! Probably #2, behind Ed. Hopper.
I have a journal with that painting as the cover..it's my absolute favourite journal cover!
Despite my love of all things Van Gogh, I haven't finished reading the book on him that my mother gave me for Christmas last year(gasp!)...thanks for the reminder!
To see his works in person is breathtaking!!! Happy B-Day to Vincent!!

i love him too. when i first moved to london and saw his work at the national gallery i cried because it was so beautiful. and i understood why he caused such a commotion. the colours never come across in any prints of his work.

his drawings are breathtaking as well.

but you know all that.

i think he was just ahead of his time.

Ah, Vince - a very fine madness! Manic-depressives are blessed in an inside-out way. Just a note to let you know how much I enjoy your site... and your lovely book, "Everyday Matters"!I have a shiney new fiber arts weblog and put your site on in 2 places - one for wit and one as resources. Thanks for being here.

I got a great link from Woods Lot to Van Gogh's letter sketches - http://www.vangoghgallery.com/letters/sketches/main.htm

m - These images of vvg's letters are great. Thanks for bringing them to my attention. My only regret is that I wish they showed them in the context of the letters themselves
Your pal,
Danny.

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Please ! How did you get the palette for the picture ?
I saw this painting when it was in LA a few years ago and it became my very favorite.
I wanted to take it home with me SO much.

Any chance you can email me with the palette info ? Is it a program or did you select them ?

Dhyana Rose

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Dhyana:
I just selected colors from the painting myself and built the palette. It was interesting to break it down and see what was in there.
The painting is so rich and that turquoise looks like chinese silk. It seemed an unusual combination of colors even for VVG.
Your pal,
Danny

I was just thinking about how almost all my favorite artists are or were self-taught, and of course Vincent is way at the top of the list - one of my main reasons for going to Holland years ago was on a Van Gogh Museum and Kroeller-Mueller Museum pilgramage.

It irks me whenever I see people put down self-taught artists as if we're lacking something we really need and would be able to express ourselves better visually if we just went to art school.

Well, maybe some of us would, but from what I see, many of us are doing just fine without formal training and might find art school more stifling than liberating (assuming we even have the time and money to choose one way or the other!).

So rock on, all self-taught artists, and never forget that some of THE greatest artists who have ever lived never set foot inside an art school. :)