I was thrilled to
learn that my painting, “My Favorite Neighbor”, won
“Best of Show” in the South
Madison Visual Art Show. Now I am wondering if I should just stick to painting my
furry friends..:o) The painting lives
next door and I can visit the real thing when I need a dog fix, which is often!
Speaking of dogs, I am so touched by an account of Van Gogh I read
recently in the book, Van Gogh, a
Self-Portrait. This paragraph was contained
in a letter written by one of his
friends:
“One Saturday afternoon we went
out for a walk: suddenly Vincent saw an emaciated, miserable, deserted street
dog, a poor hungry beggar of a dog. He
searched his purse and in it found a ‘dubbeltje’ (twopence)---it was all the
money he had, for it was the last days of the month. Then he bought two rolls for a penny to give
to the dog, and stood looking at the animal full of complacency as it devoured
the bread in a few swallows. Going back
to his companions, Van Gogh said, “What do you think this animal told me just
now? That he would like to have another
couple of rolls like that,” and following his impulse, he bought two more rolls
and gave them to the yearning dog. Now
he didn’t even have the money to buy a pack of tobacco, the only luxury he
permitted himself.” p.39
Vincent Van Gogh’s sensitivity makes him one of my heroes.
