Attachments

The locust is the last to leaf out. I sat underneath, a few evenings ago, gazing up at the stiff knarly branches, and the fern-like fronds of new leaves, when a slight breeze rippled across the canopy, ruffling their feathery edges in turn like the shrugging shoulders of a flock of green birds. Beyond the locust, fully-leafed maple branches billowed in the same breeze like sails, while above them the individual leaves on the great poplars shimmered, as tremulous as paillettes on the costume of a belly dancer, each attached by a single thread. And it's all a matter of attachment, I thought, this diversity of movement -- and at the time their varied dances seemed miraculous, the most beautiful thing in the world.

Perhaps I was just becoming feverish. That night I woke coughing, my head completely congested, and have been sick ever since with a miserable summer cold that seems finally to be abating. I've moved from the couch to the bed and back again, with brief forays into the kitchen for chicken broth and tea, while J. has made me meals, and made me laugh. I haven't been sick for a long time, and it reminds me how much I take my normal state of health for granted. Another attachment; another body, stiff or pliant? How does it move when the wind blows?

Still life with lilies of the valley and an animal skull (1), pen on paper, 11" x 8 1/2"

I've been drawing a bit, more explorations of the muguet de bois, and probably will do some more today. These are two versions of the same basic still life, drawn on the same size paper but with pens of very different thickness. The line width makes a big difference in how the drawing feels, and the second one is also more simplified -- your opinions?

 

Still life with lilies of the valley and an animal skull (2), pen on paper, 11" x 8 1/2"

Comments

[Tom]

Beth: And you have friends who sympathise and wish you well. Another attachment.

[mary]

"as tremulous as paillettes on the costume of a belly dancer"--wow, I loved this phrase. You should get feverish more often. Loved both drawings, although, the first, I think, looks richer. Get well soon.

[Relatively Retiring]

Get well soon. That's an interesting experiment with line thickness, but I can't manage to look at the skull, thick or thin!

[Hattie]

Oh that cold. It is a very unpleasant one. I like the idea of the dancer's fringe and the new leaves.
Get better soon.

[Natalie]

Sounds like you caught the same bug that knocked me out over the past two/three weeks! I hope you're feeling better- your sketches at least show no signs of depleted energy. I really like these line drawings.

[Duchesse]

I enjoy these muguets so much and marvel that you can do this while unwell. Hope you're better soon.

[Tom]

Maybe the choice between the thick and thin line width is dependent on what stage comes next. If it is to be a picture or sketch in its own right, I'd go for the thick line width. If on the other hand it is to be an underdrawing, a guide for a watercolour painting, I'd go for t'other.

[Martine]

Hope most of the cold is gone by now. The rain probably doesn't help...