Pause, Take a Deep Breath, Let It Out, Slowly

The Fog Warning - Winslow Homer
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I needed a pause, a sanity stand down if you will, what with all the turmoil and controversy in these tumultuous times. I had some very nasty things prepared to say about certain politicians, pundits, and celebrities. Then I thought, why waste my breath? (As it's writing and not speaking it's not really breath, but it sounds somehow poetic. Or something. Beats saying "wasting pixels." Aren't pixels infinite and eternal? Or something?)

Anyhoo. I thought I would present to you some of my favorite paintings and artists. Perhaps just pictures that tickled my fancy whilst searching hither and yon for pictures which calm the soul and (perhaps) make you think about things other than current affairs. Which I think we can all agree, across the political spectrum, aren't all that great right now. Leave a bit to be desired they do.

So, art. Perhaps some aircraft too, I'm kinda winging it here...

(For some great music to listen to while perusing the paintings, jump to the end, turn it on, and enjoy!)

Crab Fishing - Winslow Homer
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Song of the Lark - Winslow Homer
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A Huntsman and Dogs - Winslow Homer
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That fellow sure could paint, fellow New Englander for whatever that's worth. Seascapes, landscapes, his catalog is pretty big and full of good stuff.

Of course, I am a huge fan of military artwork...

Het transport der kolonialen - Isaac Israëls
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 Le régiment des Gardes Françaises dans la bataille de Fontenoy en 1745 - Jean-Baptiste Édouard Detaille
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Les grenadiers à cheval à la bataille d'Eylau : Haut les têtes (le colonel Lepic) - Jean-Baptiste Édouard Detaille
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Detaille is perhaps my favorite painter of military scenes. He evokes the mood and spirit of the periods he depicted very well. At least I think so, even though I wasn't there, I have a very vivid imagination.

The March to Valley Forge - William B. T. Trego
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Steady the drums and fifes! - Lady Elizabeth Butler
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Lady Butler was a very talented painter, she was one of the few ladies to manage to achieve fame in the field of military art. Her most famous painting, at least to military historians, is this one...

Scotland Forever! - Lady Elizabeth Butler
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Ah, but enough of the mournful mutter of musketry, the rattle of drums, and the blaring of cavalry bugles. Let us look to more peaceful pursuits for the moment.

Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte - Georges Seurat
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One of my favorite impressionists is Claude Monet. In the first one shown, La Grenouillére, you can almost hear the water lapping against the shore, the boats bobbing with the current.

La Grenouillére - Claude Monet
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Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge - Claude Monet
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The painting which gave the Impressionist Movement its name -

Impression, soleil levant - Claude Monet
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La Pie - Claude Monet
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Almost forgot, I did promise aircraft, didn't I?

Runway Alert - Gil Cohen
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Mission From Taegu - Gil Cohen
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Mr. Cohen is a superb artist, you can see (and purchase) his work here.

Let's wrap this up with one of my favorite pieces of music, Vivaldi, The Four Seasons. As it's October, Autumn seems appropriate.

Peace be with you.