Art
Madame Butterfly – Giacomo Puccini
Yin Huang- Madame Butterfly saying farewell to her beloved son.
One of the most powerful arias in opera history. Yin Huang does is justice and then some. If it does not bring tears to your eyes, I am not sure what would. An amazing film but outstanding performance. She expresses innocence, naivete and deep love.
Her American lover did come back as she predicted but not to be with her. He came back to ask for his child. His new wife could not bear him children so he asked her for his son. To release her son and for “the sake of honor”, she kills herself.
Here are the Italian words and their interpretation.
Con onor muore Let there be honor in death
Chi non puo sebar vita where there is no honor in life.
Con onor Let there be honor.
Tu? Tu? Tu? Tu? You! You! You! You!
Piccolo iddio! My adored one, my love!
Amore, amore mio. My love, my own love.
Fior My flower,
di giglio e di rosa. more precious than lilies and roses!
Non saperlo mai…per te, You must never know the truth;
Pei tuoi puri occhi It is for you my child, for love of you
Muore Butterfly… that Butterfly will die!
Perche tu possa andar You will live happily
Di la dal mare across the sea.
Senza che ti ricorda And spared the memory
Ai di mature as you grow
Il materno abbandono of your mother forsaking you.
O a me, sceso dal trono For me you came down from the throne
Dell’alto paradise, of heaven
Guarda ben fiso, fiso, Look steadfastly steadfastly,
Di tua madre la faccial! into your mother’s face!
Che ten’ resti una traccia, So traces of it ramain in memory,
Guardo ben! Look well!
Amore, addio, addio! My love, goodbye, goodbye!
Piccolo amor! Little love!
Va, gioca, gioca. Go play, play.
Two of O Henry’s Beloved Short Stories
One of my favorite authors ever is O Henry. Opinions differ strongly on the man’s work but he is as realistic in his recounting as Norman rockwell was in his painting.
Having read then left his stories on a shelf for a long time, in the last few days, I ran across them when downloading books to listen to. Taking O Henry with me on my evening walk, he again inspired me. The stories he wove are simple and the characters interesting and attractive. His surprise endings remain appealing and sometimes even jarring.
The next day, I sat at my work table and drew out book covers for two of his short stories. Yes, I know we do not “publish” on paper much these days but what can I say, I was inspired. I share with you two of his stories and include places where you can get them absolutely free to read and enjoy.
The Last Leaf
The Gift of the Magi
Iris in Progress
My husband Steve is working on a project and asked me for some pictures of Iris. No, he did not want photographs, he asked for drawn and colored ones.
Here is the progression of my work. I show you the first one to the last as I experimented and tested my skills with oil pastels on small spaces and narrow veins on the paper. I worked on detail while trying to keep my interest and love for Impressionist work.
These works are oil pastels on paper.
Please enjoy!
Dancing Iris
Iris Pirouette
Iris in Concert
The Glory of Iris
Pleine Air Painting Oahu Hawaii
Almost every night, my husband and I walk on the boardwalk in Ko-Olina on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. And every single night we go, it is a different sunset. If one could paint the variety and splendor of those evenings, it would take a lifetime. One could specialize in Ko-Olina sunsets and nothing else.
The colors change drastically almost by the minute. People line up on the edge of the water to watch the dramatic changes and the amazing combinations of colors. Only last night a man laying down on the grass, looked up and said, “What a palate of color God has to paint with!”
En pleine air, I introduce to you some of Ko-Olina’s gorgeous color in one dramatic sunset.
Enjoy!
Ko-Olina Sunset-1
Ko-Olina Sunset-2
Ko-Olina Sunset-3
Ko-Olina Sunset-4
Ko-Olina Sunset-5