Something pretty interesting happened this morning. It’s in regards to a neighbor. I’ll tell you about in the next week or so. As for now, my help has been requested and I am happy to be of service. Please enjoy the short story and painting. It was originally posted 4/13/08.I was a tree once. I was wild and free and lived in the open forest. My leaves sang in the wind. The rain cleansed me. I watched the sky turn from night to day and centuries pass. Many birds came to sit with me. I held their nests securely and watched their young take flight. I was beautiful and happy to be in this world. I was happy to be of service.
I was cut from my roots and taken to a carpenter in 1942. My wood was a finely sculpted with a delicate design. My seat was made of pale woven wicker. I was beautiful and a welcome part of a family. I set at dinner tables, in parlors, and bedrooms. I listen to stories, truths, tears and laughter. I held each of them with every fiber of my structure. I was happy to be in this world. I was happy to be of service.
There were 3 others like me and a large round table. Each disappeared one by one. Only I remained. I have been repainted and repaired many times. My legs have grown weak and my paint has pealed. The wicker of my seat has decayed and fallen away. A flowerpot is put in its place. I have been sent to the open and wild again.
I feel the rain cleanse me. I watch the sky turn from night to day. Many birds come to sit with me. The flowers in my pot sing in the wind. I am beautiful and a welcome part of the garden. I am happy to be in this world. I am happy to be of service.
Vikki
The painting is called Garden Chair. The chair actually resides in a neighbor’s garden. The original painting is acrylic on a 12”x 24” stretched canvas. I keep it in my own collection. Prints are available on my website.
Online jpgs are pitiful examples of what any painting actually looks like. One of the interesting things about this painting is that it can appear quite dark because of the layers of glazes. When lit -the scrubs and trees are revealed.
16 comments:
I hope everything is alright.
(thanks for stopping by)
I liked the painting and the story about it. I felt like another paragraph could have talked about the chair in the painting.
Hi Lou,
Everything is fine. It’s good news. I just have no time this week. I hate re-running a blog but kinda liked the simplicity of this one. It was one of my first.
Vikki
Hi Cup Half….,
Welcome to my blog. This is a nice surprise.
I don’t think I quite understand your suggestion. The whole story is ‘about the chair in the painting.’ If you’re talking about technique in doing the painting, I have other blogs that are devoted to that story line.
If you’re interested, please read ‘Your Point of View” If you scroll down it’s the 5th story. It’s about perspective dependant paintings. I think you’ll like it.
Vikki
Beautiful Vikki! both the painting and the story.
Vikki,
Hey, I'm back and as usual your stories are fascinating and out of the ordinary. I really like the picture of this chair. Your painting is wonderful. I'm really happy you had that double pane glass. Be safe. Will we get to see the commission when it's finished?
Chris
Awesome painting Vikki.
Just LOVE the colors you selected!
I love it!
I like the story Vikki, reminds me of "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. The chair painting is inviting and comfortable to look at and to ponder the story it tells.
Hi Manuela,
Thanks. It was actually one of those little paintings, I just did because I couldn’t find a motivation for anything. I just loved the little chair stuck back in the corner of the garden.
Vikki
Hi Chris,
“She’s baaaack.” Good! You need a new story on your blog. I’m tired of going to your blog and still seeing Miss Nose Bleed.
Yes, I’m glad those Anderson Windows actually held up, also. I wouldn’t have been just yelling at him. I would have used my baseball bat over his head if he’d broken it. Those windows cost me a fortune!
My commission is just a portrait. No big deal.
Vikki
Hi Jules,
Thanks. I was really disappointed in my jpg with this one, but it’s just the limitation of showing online. (My house smells like your beautiful candle this morning.)
Vikki
Hi Robin,
I love Shel Silverstein’s ‘The Giving Tree’. And your right. I hadn’t thought about it, but it is in the same mood -humanizing the subject. ‘The Giving Tree’ is one of the few baby books I still have in my library collection now that my children are grown. I actually give him tribute in my gallery site under the Red Chair Series.
Vikki
An absolutely beautiful story! And the painting is very thought provoking. When I first saw it before I read your post and story, I thought of how old people are put out to pasture and was reminded of an elderly beauty sitting in the lobby of a nursing home with a lap full of crochet yarn and hook.
I was visiting my Great Aunt Daisy Jewel in Hazlehurst, Georgia. Here sat a repository of skill and of a life teacher. Would that we could take in the whole story when we look at both objects and people.
Beautiful, beautiful words and works!
Dina
Hi Dina,
And thanks. You got it. It’s about the cycle of life. Tell you how close you are to the facts: The chair belonged to an elderly neighbor and dear friend. She has recently had to sell her home and move into an assisted living situation. I actually did her portrait. I did a blog on it- http://redchair-vikkisblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/peters-mother.html.
I think you’re the one that’s amazing, Dina.
Vikki
Beautiful painting, and so is the chair... it looks so solid and strong. I can imagine it looking just as purposeful in any color it had been painted throughout its time. And the story reinforced the warmth and cycles. It looks motherly to me, like it's holding an infant, youthfully stretching out to the world. Thanks for re-sharing. :)
~Michael
Hi Michael,
I love your comments. It is a very nurturing little scene. thank you.
The Chair was actually (last paint job) black. I took a series of photos of it and it’s surroundings in the garden. The black chair quickly got lost in the image- so I painted it blue. That simple. Executive decision.
Vikki
Beautiful painting and story, Vikki. Your paintings all are so vibrant and alive in their own right, but your stories make them even more so.
Hi Martha,
Thank you so much. Coming from you that’s quite a complement.
Vikki
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