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To live and enjoy every day to its fullest, use my gifts to help others, I travel to wherever passion finds me.

What Will She Paint?

So many friends I met here...!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

O'KEEFE, AND COOKING UP SOME OTHER SOUP

 One of those rainy nights we decided to rent a movie. I stood there a few minutes with the DVD in my hand, trying to decide to see the one on Georgia O'Keefe. because...

the movie of Jackson Pollock (who poured and dripped bucketful of paints on large canvases on the ground) was not a positive experience for me. 
The movie portrayed him as a deranged, lonely unstable alcoholic. That may have been part of his life, but in the movie the negative strongly overpowered the positive periods. 

Photo of O'Keefe, Metz Museum

We didn't see Georgia O'Keefe that night, but we did on another night when we couldn't find a movie. We both were sorry we did. It was not much better than the one on Jackson Pollock. What are they (movie makers) thinking?

 O'Keefe comes closer to me, since I have been compared to her because of the series of big  flowers I painted (Celebrity Collection, end of Jan. 2009). I am not concerned though that you, who regularly read my blog think that way about me. 

Reading up on some of her life: She was born in 1887 and was the 2nd of 8 children. Stieglitz was an art collector and organized shows of  Picasso and other (now famous) artists. He was mesmerized by her and took about 300 photos of her. They married. Four years later she went to Taos, New Mexico for long periods of time. Her husband stayed in New York. After he died she traveled to other continents in the Spring time. She stayed and eventually bought a house in New Mexico. 
For most part of her painting life she was not the celebrated and famous artist! She was in her eighties (!)  when people began to have  a renewed interest in her work. She died when she was 96 years old in 1986. People who are emotionally unstable mostly do not become that old in age, so that fact in itself  points to it that she was a fairly strong individual. 

this could be an O'Keefe, but it's mine (now you know why I'm compared to her:)
Latebloomer, 24 x 24 Oil, St. Germain
more info. on latest post of Art Notes -click on top right side bar

So what is the big deal? How some artists are portrayed by the media  may keep some of you,with artistic talents
on the beaten path,and not develop the artistic side that is "different" -
because who knows you become "like them"?
There has to be another way than "becoming strange or eccentric!" Choosing friends who are not artists, and not having an art blog exclusively helps greatly. This way one keeps getting input of mainstream society. The artist may sacrifice on creativity here and there because of it, but it seems a better choice than being out of touch.  

What I promised in my title, how would soup be for today?
Since it's still cold in most regions, this is another of my favorite "lazy days" soups




Chicken Corn Soup -  Crockpot dish on low for 7-8 hours or about 5hrs on high
Put in crockpot

Uncooked Chicken  breast or thigh
1 large chopped onion
2-3 peeled and sliced carrots
3 stalks of sliced celery
optional:  3 cut up medium Russet potatoes
6-7 cups of chicken broth

When chicken is tender, take bones out and shred the meat. Put back into crockpot, together with
2 cans of cream style corn,
slice a zucchini lengthwise in four, and then slice up the four parts.
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup parsley
optional: 1/4 cup of tomato sauce
Put the crockpot on "high" for half an hour.


Serve with your favorite bread.
Oh, the goodness of soup!


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16 comments:

NitWit1 said...

Love your combo post of artists and soup.

Georgia O'Keefe's work was a part of our art appreciation class. so was Grandma Moses. The emphasis was on how different styles are still art and expression, whether it pleases everyone, or not.

Stephanie V said...

Perhaps a film-maker feels it necessary to dwell on the negative. As in newspapers, it's not the good news that sells. I've always thought this schadenfreude is one of the least attractive aspects of our human experience.

Your soup, however, is enough to restore comfort. Soup is my most favorite food. It's so perfect and complete.

Merisi said...

I know O'Keefe's Biography fairly well, she was a remarkable woman and artist. I did not see the movies you mention. I rather read a good honest biography.

Soup sounds good! :-)

Unknown said...

The painting is beautiful and you surely have chosen a great portait of hers to post on top.

crochet lady said...

I wonder sometimes about the dramatic portrayal of real people's lives in the movies and how factual it is.

Your soup looks wonderful. We are expected to get 12-20" of snow through today and tomorrow. I think tomorrow will definitely be a soup day.

VioletSky said...

I often regret it when I discover too much information on artists (of any kind) that I admired. Of course, a simple life with no eccentricities or vices would be a boring tale.

Irene said...

I think there's not much wrong with being eccentric, unless ordinary, run of the mill people confuse that with being crazy. I'm all for originality and uniqueness. Especially if that brings out your special talents.

Unknown said...

The movie people play up the negative because they think it'll sell at the box office. Love O'Keefe's flowers!

Jeannette StG said...

Nitwit,
Most artists don't care if others like their style of painting, but I am a tad ticked off at the way they are by some portrayed as a person.

Stephanie,
You have a great way to balance the good and the bad:) Don't worry, I didn't smash my dishes yet, LOL.

Merisi,
Am glad you didn't see those movies - not worth your time! A pity that of so many great artists is no biography available.

JM
Thank you! Your English and the expressions you use, sound so American (I am Dutch living in Los Angeles, that's why I probably attend to these things)

Jen,
It's hard to know sometimes what the truth is these days!
Oh, I don't envy all the snow you're getting! Except for the weekend when you can stay inside!

Violetsky,
I think I rather be boring, than that my life story would be "dramatized:)"

Irene,
In Europe there seems to be more tolerance for individual differences than here. Not too long ago someone I know, called someone "eccentric", and I responded, "Really? I can't see anything eccentric about her!"

Jane (G),
I like her style in general. In the time that she lived, it probably was couragous for a woman to paint that way - and also some of her subject matter, like skulls:)

EG CameraGirl said...

I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy the movie about Georgia O'Keefe! I guess I won't bother to view it.

Anonymous said...

your crockpot soup sounds fabulous! Must try that soon.

I also agree with you about Georgia O'Keeffe .. she is one of my favourite artists and one of the things on my bucket list is to make it to Santa Fe to see her works in the museum there.

Another artist I like because her work is so different and individual is Canadian artist Emily Carr, whose paintings of the First Nation peoples and the woods on Vancouver Island are unique.

Good luck with your paintings. We look forward to seeing more of your work in future posts.

Canadian Chickadee

antigoni said...

Hello again.
The photos are from Gouda in Holland.
By the way, great post.

Suburban Girl said...

Looks yummy, and Late Bloomer is so pretty and soft.

Jeannette StG said...

Antigone,
Have to admit, never been in Gouda, although I love it's cheese! Have a great vacation time!

Rebecca,
Thank you, Friend!

Pat Tillett said...

Your "latebloomer" is so beautiful!
A food reference is always a good add to a blog entry (to me anyway!)
very nice...
Patrick Tillett, Extremely Overdue

Jeannette StG said...

Patrick,
Appreciate your "lateblooming comment" (just teasing). I don't mind short posts of others, but when I do it, I often think that "something" is missing -so, you're right, a recipe is always a good add.