My things of thankful is a bit different this week.
I am thankful for Vincent Van Gogh’s amazing ability to see and paint with an uncommon imagination and vision beyond the realm of even the extraordinary. Even the interplanetary, extraterrestrial.
As I watched the NASA imaging of the storms on Jupiter, Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh unfolded in my mind. This video wouldn’t open as an image; please click on Fly-around of Jupiter
Starry, Starry Night, Don McLean:
Trailer for the incredibly sensuous and captivating film, Loving Vincent:
A love letter I wrote to Vincent (18.02.2015) on another blog:
Vincent and I
were secret lovers.
I don’t
think even
Theo knew.
Standing on tippy-toes
to see through the crowd,
I saw you.
Transfixed, mesmerized
I wanted to embrace the colours
feel the ridges
and swirls.
Put my arm through the canvas
so the Vincent’s world
would touch my hand
Vincent had already caught
my heart.
But love affairs
with 4 year olds
is usually frowned upon.
Vincent was always with me
On starry nights,
on sunflower yellow days
on days when my madness
consumed me.
There is a shrine to you
A 4-dimensional world
at the Metropolitan Museum
No matter how far I wandered
I always found my way back to you.
I still want to touch the ridges and swirls
Feel your painting flow around me.
No longer content with just
my hand, I will step all
the way through
into your world
into a part of your life.
Would you paint my portrait
that I might be
there beside you?
Vincent and I
were secret lovers.
Not even Theo knew.
A love never
consummated.
A kiss that
will never be.
I miss you Vincent
Can I come again
today?
© Lorraine, 18.02.2015
And, as parting thoughts: an animation; and the trailer for the 2010 Dr. Who episode “Vincent and the Doctor.”
I have yet to see the new movie: At Eternity’s Gate:
image: Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh (Modern Art Museum, NYC)
Lorraine's frilly freudian slip 
December 21, 2018 at 12:48 am
I just accidentally erased my comment
Mainly…love Vincent
Saw Stary Night, surprised it evoked so much emotion it made me burst into tears. Vincent and the Dictir is an excellent episode. I haven’t seen the movie either, but saw a really good documentary with Benedict Cumberbatch playing Vincent. He was surprisingly good. Well done.
Beautiful love letter.
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December 28, 2018 at 7:28 am
Thank you. Vincent really resonates with me. I really did see a traveling exhibit when I was a child — early impact of his world.
Vincent and the Doctor always makes me cry! Doctor Who-aton on BBC America.
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December 28, 2018 at 2:52 pm
We are going to try to see Escape to Eternity on New Year’s Day, it’s playing at the theater near me that is looped for my CIs, I might be able to hear most of it!! I’ve watched some of the Who-athon. Looking forward to the special on New Years. xo
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December 16, 2018 at 11:04 am
very cool
(yeah, though not an ‘arts guy’… how can you not get caught by ‘The Starry Night’ and, yet, it serves as a reminder of how vast the gap between personal realities can be…But it is this acceptance of the fact that we all live in a personal reality that allows us to appreciate something like a painting or a poem.)
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December 17, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Yep. I really did see a traveling exhibit of Van Gogh when I was around 4. I don’t remember all of it, just the swirls and the contours. It was later that I grew to indentify with Vincent on many levels. A book that consists of letters between him and his brother, Theo, is amazing. As are the visual things I suggest.
Glad Starry Night grabs you — Vincent would be pleased.
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December 15, 2018 at 10:12 pm
You have a real gift for poetry!
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December 17, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Thank you. Sometimes the words flow that way. Mostly now I write prose, or prosetry. But Vincent inspires the poet that dwells deep. Glad I could share my love of his work through the 10 Things Thankful post.
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December 15, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Yes, paintings can be very captivating. A wonderful poem!
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December 17, 2018 at 2:37 pm
I still migrate towards Vincent whenever I visit the Metropolitan Museum. They have Sunflowers, the wonderful self-portrait in the straw sun hat, and others.
I did see my first Van Gogh around 4. Perhaps younger. My time line is off because as a child I also saw a traveling Rembrandt exhibit, and the treasures of King Tut’s tomb.
I used to write in a sort of prosetry more often. As when I penned the poem I included.
Thanks so much for stopping by. And leaving an encouraging comment.
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December 28, 2018 at 7:38 am
Thank you. I appreciate your dropping by. I’ve been not using the computer too much, which means I don’t visit other blogs as often as I should.
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December 15, 2018 at 1:56 pm
A beautiful post about a troubled artist. 💜
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December 15, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Yes, Vincent was troubled — I often wonder how his art would have been if he had not been. Perhaps it is because of his struggles that we are left with so much beauty.
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December 15, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Yes I agree from madness comes beauty 💜
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December 17, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Yes, it does seem so!
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December 17, 2018 at 2:39 pm
💜💜
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