Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Emails with my Father

I'd like to post some of the email conversations I had with my father on the subject of books, painting, art and life, since he has given me so much encouragement and inspiration throughout my life. 

We didn't start talking seriously about my own journey as a painter until 2010 when he and my mother came to visit during the Christmas holidays that year and we started painting and drawing together. He died in 2013, just after his 60th wedding anniversary and a few weeks before Christmas. 

From    : Tamsen[mailto:tamsen345@comcast.net]
Sent    : 4/22/2013 7:55:05 PM
To      : normvance@hrecn.net
Cc      : 
Subject : RE: Re: .....by holding my breath...

Oh frabjous day! Callooh callay! 
Or is that not Lithuanian enough for you!? Glad to hear your computer is 
back up and running. It's my lifeline to the world and I don't know what 
I'd do without it! 

Hey, Daddo, I'm glad you like my Mount Diablo painting. I feel that for a 
first effort, I did pretty well. Im still making changes to the 
foreground tree line and may do some more with the sky  I'd like to keep 
exploring the subject and try for all kinds of variations. I found that 
the best time to see the mountain is in the late afternoon and early 
evening. The colors are much more saturated at that time. 

I think of you every day and hope you are feeling well. I love you!
TamTam


From: "Norman K Vance" <normvance@hrecn.net>
Date: April 23, 2013 10:59:22 AM PDT
To: tamsen345@comcast.net
Subject: Claude Monet, the father of impressionism....
Reply-To: "" <Norman K Vance>

,,,,,painted dozens of studies of "haystacks". I can only assume he was 
exploring the shapes and textures, the lighting and colors.  Monet was in 
a learning curve at this time, a place you are in, now, so don't be 
afraid to paint Mt Diablo again!  You will learn much as you do this!
If you remember my series of abstract paintings of "Rock Crushers", I did 
many studies and finally found some design I liked.
Just a few words of advice from

your ever loving

Daddy

3 comments:

  1. I SAW those haystacks.... 6 of them, all in the same room. They took my breath away and I got teary.... still do. Learning and exploring are the keys to unlocking the secrets of translating what we see into what we make... keep making and learning to see. We have an art practice to uphold and fulfill!!!

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  2. I remember you telling me about them! You see how different each one captures the light. Awesome! Keep connecting...

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