A rush of color
December began with a potpourri of colors and impressions, as if to compensate for the beginning of the darkest weeks of the year.
The short days and long nights that December brings are generally brightened up by Christmas and the associated rituals of decorating and lighting. While I personally tend to be a little sparing with this and the lavish decorations rather make me feel even more cramped at home in addition to the darkness, I look for moments in the short days that bring color and emotion into my life.
Bright December colors
Colorful details on a run
The first half of this first week of December still had a hint of November in it and set strong colorful accents. For example, there was one last leafy tree in bright orange competing with the equally intense purple of a weathered graffiti. Even the seagulls, which normally flock to the Rhine in winter, were only occasionally to be seen, but cormorants and ravens were instead.
Feathered encounters by the river
Back to gray
This mood then changed in the middle of the week when a storm hit the city, after which there were no leaves left on the deciduous trees. Over and out. Time to warm my heart elsewhere. First of all, I stocked up on new books. Bored or mostly annoyed by the digital streaming and the vast amounts of advertising that you are now subjected to on the internet and social media, I rediscovered this old passion a few months ago and enjoy immersing myself in a book without distraction.
The other ingredient to make a day special and trigger satisfaction in me is art. Making my own is always the most satisfying, but it wasn’t enough for me this week either. However, being inspired by other creative people is just as good. Especially when it’s one of the great masters.
The famous paper cut-outs by Henri Matisse
L’invitation au voyage
In my case, I visited MATISSE Invitation to the Voyage at Fondation Beyeler, an exhibition that had been on my agenda for some time. The retrospective shows over 70 of his works, from his early paintings to the legendary cut-outs. The papercuts are brilliant, but I was particularly taken with his paintings. Or rather the colors he uses and how he combines them. Also his handling of patterns and structures. It was good to immerse myself in the pictures and study them. I returned home feeling inspired and satisfied.
Beautiful paintings of intense colors
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
Henri Matisse
Artist wisdom
These highlights helped me get through a week that was otherwise full of work and appointments. They made this otherwise rather monotonous week a special one. But as Matisse said in one of his quotes, it’s up to you to see the flowers that are always and everywhere waiting to be discovered.
Kleinbasel roofs
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