Debbi Friedman's Blog » Quotes I like

A new oil painting. . . .of rocks!

Debbi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:54:03 +0000

Here is my first oil painting in two or more years! That was a long time to be away from painting, and the tubes of paint let me know in no uncertain terms, as they were stuck shut and I needed to use a pliers to get the tops off!

I completed this small (12″ x 12″) painting in about two weeks, working on it part-time, as I also have another drawing going, which is also almost finished. Basically I’m pleased with what I accomplished which was to get back into painting. It’s a little clumsy in places, but a decent effort overall. I set up several rock piles on some bookbinding fabric, and the fabric has a sheen to it, so it changes from one color to another (or two) depending on which way the light is hitting it. One thing that is so much quicker and easier about oils, versus colored pencils, is doing the backgrounds. Large areas of color can be laid down and gone over again more quickly. However, I miss the unusual and vibrant colors achieved by layering transparent pencil colors.

I’m trying to push myself outside my comfort zone, and to that end, I’m going to continue working an oil painting along side a drawing for the indefinite future. I’m off to start a new oil painting today, and part with a quote from the Boston Globe’s “Reflection for the Day” that I found rather amusing:

A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one. Benjamin Franklin

Debbi — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:59:12 +0000

I came across this “Reflection of the Day” today in the Boston Globe and it really struck a chord with me and made me smile.

“Being in doubt is uncomfortable, but being certain is ridiculous”

- Voltaire

New quote to share

Debbi — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:50:32 +0000

This quote was printed in the Boston Globe today and it really spoke to me. It’s the way I think about much and/or most of my work.

“There is only one valuable thing in art, and that is the thing that cannot be explained.” -Georges Braque

A quote for thought

Debbi — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:17:28 +0000

I will be posting a photograph of my new drawing tomorrow. It’s an exciting change for me and I’m having a lot of fun working on it. In the meantime, here’s a quote I’ve always been amused by.

“It has ever been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues” -Abraham Lincoln

A fun quote

Debbi — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:23:18 +0000

One of my favorite vegetables since an early age have been artichokes, so when I came across this quote I thought it was great fun.

“Life is like an artichoke: each day, week, month, year, gives you one little bit which you nibble off – but precious little compared with what you throw away”. – Oliver Wendell Holmes

A new quote

Debbi — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:23:01 +0000

I don’t know if the following is from one of her poems or taken from correspondence, but this quote was in the Boston Globe last week and I liked it.

“I hope you love birds, too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven” -Emily Dickinson

I will be posting another photograph of my new drawing on Friday – please check back!

Happy New Year!

Debbi — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:12:02 +0000

Here are a couple of quotes to toast in the New Year:

“As you slide down the banisters of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.” -Anonymous

“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.” -Joey Adams

Have a great night. See you next year!

A new quote for thought

Debbi — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:20:53 +0000

I came across this quote yesterday while at the Museum of Science in Boston which I found interesting:

“It should not be hard for you to stop sometimes and look into the stains of walls, or ashes of fire, or clouds, or mud or like place in which. . . you may find really marvelous ideas” – Leonardo DaVinci

Another favorite quote

Debbi — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:34:52 +0000

I received this quote many years ago in a fortune cookie. Apparently the factory writers paraphrased it, but they still did a good job, so I will print it the “fortune cookie” way. If anyone knows the real quote, that will explain my variation!

“Try not to be a person of success but rather one of virtue” – Albert Einstein

Work progress and a quote

Debbi — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:28:58 +0000

I’ve started to layout the pencil sketch for the Catbird nest drawing, and based on how detailed it is, it will be a couple of more days before I can put a sketch on-line. Here is an amusing quote I came across, definitely gets one to do a double take!

“The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources”. -Albert Einstein