The Shadow of The Easel

Picture This!

Rips in the canvas

as the artist applies

his anger, his hatred,

his love, his insights

in deep wedges

of multicoloured oils

or bleeding watercolour.

Splashes of paint,

blocks of blue Picasso,

Turner's light and shade,

Van Gogh's Starry Night,

the dark and rich,

mature, sophisticated feel

of  Da Vinci's Mona Lisa,

the screaming, soothing palette

of Edvard Munch.

Seurat's painted beauty

'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte'

or Rockwell's 'The Optometrist'

or even Hokusai's

“The Great Wave”.

Art bleeds

and bleeds in colour.

 10/03/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Wild Rose]

I prefer a more sedate way of painting > More studying the subject > mostly landscapes - and in watercolours not oils or gauche which can be put on thick

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I too prefer the gentler medium of the watercolour and preferably impressionistic. Many thanks WR

[Kay]

Great references in this poem! I really liked the metaphor of the artist painting with their blood. It establishes variance in color and texture in the imagery, which also compliments the personal investment a finished piece can take. You are painting with the essence of you - in this case, very literally. At times, this can be overwhelming and create "Rips in the canvas" as your opening lines describe.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Kay. I think this applies to many 'artists', people with artistic natures.

[Eilis]

Having read a little about some of the artists you mention, I feel like the picture you paired with the poem is apt.

It seems like so much of the practice of making art is about taking the internal life and applying it to a subject. The chaos of Van Gogh’s mind, for instance, transferred in such vivid, beautiful, but also chaotic, strokes.

I think your poem does justice to the artistic mind. So much goes unsaid- whether in words or strokes- but often transfers in a spiritual way.

I enjoyed reading this.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Ellis. The artist's skill is to impart upon the consumer and all of these great painters did just that.

[Einstein Noodle]

beautiful John ..you gave me the experience of art appreciation in a very smooth poem ... reading it i feel like a dab of blue washing down a watercolor falls ;) very cool poem sir! love it!
E.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Why thank you Sir 'E' I am most grateful. And the blue rinse............?

[Chris Shaw]

If I hadn't turned to writing I may have painted. I certainly used to. Another great way of expressing creativity. Thank you for reminding me what these great artists have gifted us. You brought me their talent, their individual expression and their spirit through their works.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Not being a scholar of art pains me, but I do appriciate it Chris. Many thanks.

[kitty]

ARt - an expression of self. Inventive, intuitive bringing out inner thoughts to be interpreted by the enthuiast. Thank you for sharing a bit of you.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Kitty I am not well versed in art but do love it.

[kentuck14]

John, Very lyrical as you scroll down the list of great modern artists. Just how much these painters put themselves in their oils we may never know. I like the title, "Shadow of the Easel." It tells me every work of art on the canvas or paper has a story behind it . . . often hidden and known only by the author . . . each "bleeds" a little on the work. Great poem.
Tom

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed most artists bleed at sometime me thinks Tom. many thank yous.

[Lydia Shutter]

Strokes of color, trains of thought, the artist uses his paintbrush or his words. The meaning hardly matters once the canvas is filled or the words are on the page. Great mentions of artists. Lydi**

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Lydi. It was a fun write.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i think when i bleed words, it is more like Jackson Pollack....
just smears, wild strokes, not within the confines of a frame...kind of all over the place...
i love all the references to the artists here, and the different motivations that cause art to "happen"!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed Pollack had quite a different approach. I guess all 'artists' bleed. Tis why they try to create is it not? Many thanks Jacob.