In this blog series I reveal some words behind the art of “Love Letters to Henry Miller”. For each of the nine, I start with a note from my journal that were inspired by his writing and watercolor paintings. This is followed by a quote by Miller.
Love Letter to Henry Miller 10
©Kathleen O’Brien, Love Letter to Henry Miller, 10
To lose my mind in the act of painting is the ultimate love – to surrender my will to paper, pigment, and brush (all must be present as each has its reality in consciousness and destiny) is bowing down to soul and divinity saying “your will not mine.” The extent to which I can surrender determines the level of mastery.
“The great joy of the artist is to become aware of a higher order of things, to recognize by the compulsive and spontaneous manipulation of his own impulses the resemblance between human creation and what is called “divine” creation.” ~ Henry Miller, “Sexus (The Rosy Crucifixion, Book 1)”: originally published 1949, Obelisk Press, Paris France; © Henry Miller Estate, 1965; published 1965, Grove Press, NY, NY
Love Letter to Henry Miller 11
©Kathleen O’Brien, Love Letter to Henry Miller, 11
I like to entice people to look deeply below the surface of my art – mysterious subtlety. Surprised and rewarded by what went unnoticed at first, the viewer is filled with youthful experience of first encounter. Further, if then one looks beyond the surface – of anything – and into their imagination, they discover their positive loving state.
“Creation is the eternal play which takes place at the border line; it is spontaneous and compulsive, obedient to law. One removes from the mirror and the curtain rises.” ~ Henry Miller, “Sexus (The Rosy Crucifixion, Book 1)”: originally published 1949, Obelisk Press, Paris France; © Henry Miller Estate, 1965; published 1965, Grove Press, NY, NY
Love Letter to Henry Miller 12
©Kathleen O’Brien, Love Letter to Henry Miller, 12
It is humbling to admit my ego has an expiration date – my soul does not. At this stage I dedicate the rest of my life to surrendering to divine expression of time space essence, and disseminating it in myriad ways.
“What I should like to recommend for the few remaining years, months or weeks that are left us is to piss the time away enjoyably. Making watercolors is one way. Try it, if you never have. No need to sign your name to them; nothing will be preserved, no matter whose name is signed. Turn them out one after the other, and don’t worry about masterpieces.” ~ Henry Miller, forward to “The Angel is My Watermark!” by Henry Miller, Big Sur, California, April 7, 1960
~ fin ~