A Letter to Friends

Hi to you, the faithful blog friends of the Slightly Erratic Pagan Sphinx. Now that Bobbie has passed away, I think the regular readers remain Susan, Singing Bear, Dianne, Mac and Jams.The Photo Pholks stop by for the memes but probably don't read the art or personal posts.  Thanks, Beautiful People. 

I'm writing to you briefly from San Francisco, California.  I didn't expect to be here for the last four days of my California trip but it was indeed a nice surprise to be parceled out from Santa Barbara, where I was visiting my daughter and daughter-in-law, and join WP in SF until July 5.  

Today's delights were crepes, fresh orange juice and dark coffee for breakfast and Filmore Jazz off and on all day. 

We are staying in Japan Town, which is very chill, as the San Francisco denizen, Lovely Step-Daughter #1, says.  We met her boyfriend for the first time and we had a genuinely great time out with them last night for dinner, over lots of wine and bustling city-cool restaurant atmosphere. Chill, indeed. Living-wise, I'd much rather San Francisco than New York City. Though I will visit the latter at the Drop of a Hat.

Both states need to get their act together regarding Marriage Equality. It's beyond sad that California rejected the equal marriage law, by popular vote.  Ouch. 

I digress ; sorry.

Listening to the strands of jazz music on Filmore straining up the the sixteenth floor of our hotel in Japantown.  Time to go back down to earth to groove.  :-)

Tomorrow:  San Francisco MoMA and more Filmore Jazz.

Next week:  lots of photos, here at The Pagan Sphinx.

Peace and Love,

Pagan Sphinx

Artist of the Week - Suzanne Valadon

Hello, all! Before we delve fully into the work of Suzanne Valadon, I wanted to check in with you all regarding comment  approval on the blog. I thought I'd be able to remove it by now but the Asian porn sites are still at it. It's a lot lighter but I don't want to risk removing the feature for fear that the next time I check my email, there will be twenty in one day, in posts dating back month and months; making them hard to remove. I've also recently rejected several comments from pharmaceutical sites. Maybe as a result of the mental health posts? I don't know.  

Thanks to those of you who stopped by with Thanksgiving wishes. To be honest, it meant a lot to me. Many of you are juggling complicated life and family schedules, keeping blogs with large readerships and I know at least one of you is writing a novel! I can't get over my good fortune in finding a sense of friendship and community through blogging. 

May love keep you always.

Pagan Sphinx

 

 The Net Throwers
1914

  The Net Throwers

detail

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click on images for extra vuluptuousness

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1865-1938

Self-portrait

Suzanne Valadon is perhaps best known as an artist's model than as a gifted painter in her own right.  Below is a sampling of paintings by famous artists for whom she posed. She learned a great deal about painting from these masters, who recognized her talent and originality.  In 1915, she had her first one person exhibition, which became a critical as well as a commercial success.

When Suzanne Valadon died in 1938, her funeral was attended by Picasso,  Andre Derain and George Braque.

Toulouse Latrec
Portrait of Suzanne Valadon

Valadon modeled for this painting:Dance at Bougival

by Renoir

Modgliani

Suzanne Valadon

Maurice Utrillo
(Valadon's son and also a well regarded painter; gaining the reputation as the half-mad alcoholic of Montmartre)

André Utter

(her husband)

Suzanne Valadon se coiffant

1909

Adam and Eve
detail

1910

The Fortune Teller
1912

1913

1918

 

  1922

 

 detail

 

Portrait de famille

 (Valdon, son Maurice Utrillo, husband  Andre Utter and Utter's mother)

 

The Forgotten Doll

Portrait de Miss Lily Walton avec Raminou

Heart Mandala Award

This is such a beautiful award; both visually and symbolically. I'm very, very honored to have received it from my friend Liberality, whom I grow to admire and respect more with every post of hers I read. And that it was created with love by Susan, the subject of this art post, makes it all that much more special.

So many talented, creative, loving people deserve this award so it's hard to choose from among them. It's also hard for me to recall who likes awards and who does not, so if I pass this one to you and you're not an awards person, please feel no obligation.

For their heartfelt kindness and support:

1.) Steve at Color Sweet Tooth
2) Dianne at Forks Off The Moment
3) Betmo of Life's Journey

(My apologies to all for the delay in posting about my high regard for this award. I've been ill since Monday; struggling with an earache and congestion as well as a whole host of other related and unrelated ailments. Today, in the wee hours, I developed a massive headache that I've been fighting off all day. This is the first time today I have been able to be up and about. )

Blog Blast for Peace

There is a very interesting blog called Mimi Writes that is sponsoring a world-wide effort called Blog Blast for Peace. There doesn't appear to be a direct connection to the Iraq War but to all wars around the planet. Any effort for world peace is worth participating in, so I've joined and I hope you do too.

I'm having difficulty figuring out how to add my blog to the list of participants. If you know, please let me know.