Born on this date.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

[2naSalit]

1. When I was in the second grade...

I remember we had an art class, a music class and an art appreciation class when the traveling art teacher was not scheduled to be there. I remember that sometimes the teacher would show us paintings and then play music that could be associated with that art, then we were asked to listen to music and draw/color what we imagined aided by the music. I was moved by Degas' paintings of the ballerinas, because I wanted to be one, and I drew/colored a likeness of one of those paintings. Never forgot that, I think of it every time I see a Degas painting.

[MLAA]

2. What a nice memory!

My memories of studying art were in French class 🙂

[2naSalit]

3. For some reason...

I remember almost all of my art and music classes from the beginning school years through college. I still dabble in things when I have the time and inspiration.

My only incentive for going to school were the art classes and assemblies where, in Maine where I lived then, there was a program that had classical quartets and chamber ensembles travel to all the school districts in the state. They would play and then explain the history and construction and purpose of their instruments and then play some more. It was a fantastic program. We also learned to read music in the second grade along with English and a second language! Imagine, second grade.

[lunatica]

4. His paintings of ballerinas are quite compelling to me

They feel so intimate and immediate, like I’m right there bathed in the lights and ambiance. His paintings feel like he was familiar with the ambiance and perfectly at home in the presence of the dancers and the people he painted. He painted them as they were, perfectly understanding them.

It must have been horrible to lose his eyesight. I’ve always felt that would be the worst thing that could happen to me. What in the world would I do if that happened?! Maybe it was exactly why his paintings are so infused with light. He obviously appreciated the qualities of light!