“Summer was past and the day was past.Sombre clouds in the west were massed.” Robert Frost’s poignant poem, “Bereft” includes these lines, and they came to mind today, although in this case: “Winter was past and the cold was past. Fluffy clouds in the west were massed.” Spring has come, and with it the flowers of the season, the budding branches, the greening grass, the … Continue reading A Wild and Precious Life
Miles Davis had it right: “Sometimes it takes a long time to learn how to play like yourself.” And with that, I’m right back in the jazz world. But Miles Davis knew whereof he spoke. And it applies to any creative work. Even to the woodcarvers who put their talent to work carving pumpkins for Halloween. I’m back but I’ve learned some things in the … Continue reading Learning to Play Like Myself
“Night and Day” The Colors of Jazz 24″ x 18″ ©2021, Molly Larson Cook Acrylic on canvas $400 In the art world, as everywhere else, the pandemic has wreaked a certain amount of damage. And I don’t mean just lost opportunities to exhibit or to make sales. The art wheels are turning slowly, creaking as it were, and I’m happy to report that it’s … Continue reading A Relationship With Something Outside Ourselves
Work in progress…Map of the Far Horizon “Do they still make, even sell, paper maps?” That question from retired New York marketing executive Michael Lissauer is emblematic of our daily reliance on digital navigation. “Other than in a history class, Europe before World War II, who needs a paper map?” My answer to Mr. Lissauer’s question is, “Me. I need a paper map.” I don’t … Continue reading The Art in the Map
How can we trace, really, the beginnings of our creative life? We write our biographies, our artists’ statements, we tell the stories, but how do we know for certain that this moment or that was the beginning? Biographies of musicians sometimes include “She picked up the guitar at age 3 and…” But really? Is that the beginning a creative life? Or, “He began writing short … Continue reading It’s Not Just About Feeling and No, a Four-Year-Old Couldn’t Do It
“Cool Blues” ©2020, Molly Larson Cook 36″ x 24″ Acrylic on canvas Where does it come from – the art impulse? Out of all the things we can do, what is it makes us pick up a crayon or a pencil, a paintbrush, pen or stick of charcoal to record one thing or another that we see or imagine? I don’t have the answer. … Continue reading The Creative Spirit – Everybody Can Play
Hot House Colors of Jazz Collection ©2020, Molly Larson Cook Acrylic on canvas 30″ x 24″ My county in Oregon has been cleared for a “soft” re-opening, Phase I as the governors and medical experts call it, as we begin the shift out of lockdown for COVID-19. I’m not sure yet how this will pan out, and it might be too early, but a … Continue reading It’s Going to Take Some Time This Time
“…notice the objects you notice… Or put another way: make objects that talk–and then listen to them.” –Bayles & Orland, Art & Fear Straight, No Chaser Colors of Jazz Series 24″ x 36″ © 2018 For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been listening to this painting. It was supposed to go with the others I took from Mexico to storage on the way … Continue reading Notice…and Listen
“Know you could tumble any second…” ©2019, Molly Larson Cook Acrylic on canvas, 24″ x 30″ Several years ago a nonartist friend held a business seminar in a classroom at the art school in my city. When I arrived, she was busy “saging” the room. I asked why and she said, “Because they do art critiques here and there’s so much bad energy.” I suggested that she … Continue reading Playing Small May Be for Some People, But Not for the Artists of the World
I’ll be honest…I don’t know who these girls are. Or who this photograph might belong to. But since I first saw it, I’ve been taken with the outright joie de vivre captured here. I think they remind me a little of my own daughters, who are all grown up now and have their own kids and never owned hula skirts – plastic, grass, or otherwise. … Continue reading Let There Be Joy and Goofiness and Laughter and Art
Art and Tulips 