I just got back from seeing The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and feel so happy, even though most of the movie was incredibly sad. Eliah and I sat transfixed in the theater. Even the sounds of ice in a cup and the crunching of popcorn did not distract as the beautifully filmed movie evolved on the screen.

Based on a true story and created from the book by the same title, this movie chronicles the trials of a once fashionable and handsome man, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who has been stricken by a stroke and completely paralyzed save for one eye. Through this eye we experience Jean-Do's environment and see his new world from his perspective. He can hear but cannot speak and over the course of time establishes communication through blinking. Many shots are like paintings, colorful and compositionally comforting. The movie concludes with Jean-Do having written a book about his experience, all with the help of a translator, who dutifully repeated letters until he blinked a "yes".

This movie was a powerful portrayal of the strength of life; how even what seems impossible can be overcome and become a thing of beauty.

A recommendation for sure.

Getting back to This

I go and look at Claires blog ( http://dibblephoto.blogspot.com/) and feel inspired by her dedication to her writing, her photos and her postings. This could be me too. The excuse that it is easier to upload photos than photos of paintings can not suffice anymore.

Above and below is one of the latest pieces I am working on. There are still many unanswered questions in the painting and although I am liking it more and more I am struggling with how to find the answers. I like doing landscapes and am finding that I like the vistas that come from my head even more than the ones from real life.




Today I took Olive for a walk in the eerily warm temperature, soft snow crunching and gentle wind blowing. We walked the trail less traveled. It is one of my favorites when there is wind because the tall firs rub against each other, the only sound, creating a soundtrack for our romp. It is such a mysterious sound, the meeting of two trees, and Olive often mistakes the noise for squirrels. The snow that was falling from high above in clumps due to the thaw reminded me of this painting. Maybe these white shapes are snow drifts....maybe they are figures....



What the week holds: Pilates, a return to running, swimming, hopefully a Galactic concert although all tickets are claimed, the start of my new job, laughter, Valentines Day, art openings....and many more surprises I am sure.