l am reading my old museum exhibition books, I have ton as I was an exhibition museum addict for the ten years I lived in Europe.

Last night the Chardin catalogue from an exhibit I went to in 2000 in London.

What intrigued me was the fact he is considered the real father of modern art as he used colour and form rather than detail in still life which at the time was not considered a serious painting subject.

Why?

Because he wanted to be a history painter but could not paint or draw action and he had poor eyesight so could not master oil painting details.

So, he created his own form and style using pastels, colour and form rather than line and detail which later the impressionists were thrilled and inspired by.

Lesson of the story?

Our limitations can become our inspirations.

As the Buddha said "What we think, we become."

"Watch your thoughts, they become words.
  Watch your words, they become actions.
  Watch your actions, they become habits.
  Watch your habits, they become your character.
  Watch your character, it becomes your destiny..."

Lao Tzu

I am a fan of Taoism as well.

Mahāyāna Buddhism was greatly influenced by Taoism in China, Korea and Japan.

Though the Japanese being ever unique injected a lot of Shintoism into Japanese Buddhism.

Returning to art and spirituality, I think there is a lot of mindfulness in the way many painters worked.

Most of all the impressionists like Monet or Pissarro who tried to portray ever changing moments of light on form.

I reckon they often went into profound states of mindfulness when painting.

Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 6^th, 2025 at 12:46pm:

I reckon they often went into profound states of mindfulness when painting.

Maybe for some...

For one of the greats, van Gogh, I wouldn't rank him among the mindful... more like the 'madful', such that 'divine madness' might be the best characterisation of his state of mind... and nevermind Don Mclean!

Wonderfully madful is a great way to describe Vincent.

Unlike Monet or Pissarro who tried to paint what they saw in the moment Vincet was painting the world as he felt it.


MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 6^th, 2025 at 1:26pm:

Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 6th, 2025 at 12:46pm: I reckon they often went  into profound states of mindfulness when painting. Maybe for some... For one of the greats, van Gogh, I wouldn't rank him among the mindful... more like the 'madful', such that 'divine madness' might be the best characterisation of his state of mind... and nevermind Don Mclean!

Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 6^th, 2025 at 1:31pm:

Wonderfully madful is a great way to describe Vincent. Unlike Monet or Pissarro who tried to paint what they saw in the moment Vincet was painting the world as he felt it.

I guess so... wild, furious, chaotic...

Van Gogh painted the wind.

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 6^th, 2025 at 1:44pm:

Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 6th, 2025 at 1:31pm: Wonderfully madful is a great way to describe Vincent. Unlike Monet or Pissarro who tried to paint what they saw in the moment Vincet was painting the world as he felt it. I guess so... wild, furious, chaotic... Van Gogh painted the wind.

Painting the wind the is mad work of the divinely intoxicated.

Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 7^th, 2025 at 11:18am:

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 6th, 2025 at 1:44pm: Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 6th, 2025 at 1:31pm: Wonderfully madful is a great way to describe Vincent. Unlike Monet or Pissarro who tried to paint what they saw in the moment Vincet was painting the world as he felt it. I guess so... wild, furious, chaotic... Van Gogh painted the wind. Painting the wind the is mad work of the divinely intoxicated.

It's the core of his genius...

It's hard not to feel the wind when looking at so many of his masterpieces.

https://media.newyorker.com/photos/647a15fec91efd6c449e2964/master/w_2240,c_limit/Arn-Van-Gogh-Secondary-1.jpg

MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 7^th, 2025 at 11:43am:

Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 7th, 2025 at 11:18am: MeisterEckhart wrote on Jul 6th, 2025 at 1:44pm: Jake Winker Frogen wrote on Jul 6th, 2025 at 1:31pm: Wonderfully madful is a great way to describe Vincent. Unlike Monet or Pissarro who tried to paint what they saw in the moment Vincet was painting the world as he felt it. I guess so... wild, furious, chaotic... Van Gogh painted the wind. Painting the wind the is mad work of the divinely intoxicated. It's the core of his genius... It's hard not to feel the wind when looking at so many of his masterpieces.

I wanna know,
Why he never painted rain,
Comin' down on a sunny day...