Paintings and Pendants
Thursday January 25th 2007, 12:34 pm
Filed under: Knit


My father is a modern art dealer. Nat Leeb was one of the artists he represented for many years. I remember Monsieur Leeb, when I was 16, trying to give me an impromptu drawing lesson: you observe for ten minutes, he said, then draw for one.

This was always my favorite Leeb painting, all my growing up. My father told me that Leeb had been one of the last proteges of Claude Monet, when Monet was an old man and Leeb a young one. Leeb became, not an Impressionist, but a Colorist: see, Dad said, in this painting, there is a house at the top of the cliff, with the ocean below, see how the light interacts with them.

Echoes from what Leeb had said to me: observe for ten minutes. Then draw conclusions as to what you’re seeing for one.

I have not succeeded yet in getting a good picture of my necklace, with its leaves and fine curls of silver across the top of the leaves. It wasn’t till after I’d finished that shawl, which stretches easily to 20″ wide and went down to my knees, that I saw: it looks like two women, each dressed with a shawl wrapped around them, reaching across the expanse of earth, the distance of the turquoise stone, to embrace each other above it.

The silversmiths make a cast and then create a number of pieces from that cast. I am quite pleased that a twin to my necklace is now up for sale on dineh’s ebay site–and that the starting price is higher than mine was two weeks ago. Very good.


6 Comments so far
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Nice story about the painter.

Dimitrios Pop Art
http://www.dimitrios-art.com
http://www.thousandlotsofsand.com

Comment by Anonymous 01.25.07 @ 4:40 pm

I also noticed when you gave us the URL last time that she now has reserves on certain peices. Don’t feel too bad.. She learned a lesson from your purchase, and now is getting a gift. Probally why you were moved to bid in the first place. Better somone kind teach a lesson, than someone callous.

Comment by Teresa 01.25.07 @ 5:01 pm

Actually, many of the pieces had reserve prices before I ever got there. Hers was one of the few that did not. Dineh is a co-op representing a number of artists, and I assume each one sets their own terms. I can only imagine that she set a price that was along the lines of what a trader would offer her, planning on marking it up and profiting from her work. What I so like about this group is that it gives the artist direct exposure to the buying public–which is willing to pay that higher price. And the artists certainly deserve it.

Comment by AlisonH 01.25.07 @ 5:50 pm

Alison, you paint life pictures with yarn, you know. And you “spin yarns,” the stories of your life so far, that make the world a better place. Thanks for your blog.

Pam

Comment by Anonymous 01.26.07 @ 10:21 am

Thank you…

Comment by AlisonH 01.26.07 @ 11:10 am

very touch to read what had say my father to you.It’is so him!very touch to see your pictures because I rememember you so well when we were younger! so much memories, you kniting in the car when we were traveling with your dad.All my love allison and happy you’re well . Dominique

Comment by Leeb dominique 09.06.07 @ 9:51 am



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