Winter...Looking For Cornelius And Not Finding Him...
“Looking For Cornelius And Not Finding Him” is part of the Winter Collection...more than meets the eye…
In my painting and accompanying writing, “Looking for Cornelius”, there are three significant levels of interpretation..on one level it’s a metaphor for the challenges we face in life and how we struggle to overcome them…secondly it is a tribute to the genre of Chinese poetry, and thirdly it is literally looking for a way to the great Canadian artist Krieghoff, and not having made it to end of the journey…but along the way happiness is found, and the necessity for the journey is now gone…Janis
Watercolour on Canvas…
In looking for Cornelius, I climbed many mountains, wore out my shoes, tore my arms in pain, wept in misery…he was not there…then I stopped to rest beneath the trees…the quiet beauty of winter surrounded me…my cares slipped away ... Janis
Winter...Looking For Cornelius And Not Finding Him... belongs to the following groups:
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Janis Zroback
richiedean
I hope you find Cornelius soon before you do yourself a mischief …........
Great painting Janis …. :))
Janis Zroback replied
LOL…it’s a metaphor…thanks so much Richie…it’s nice to see you again…
kjgordon
this is magical Janis…....such beauty….only YOU and mother nature can create….......
Janis Zroback replied
Wat a great compliment KJ…I find winter magical, and I try to convey that magic through the painting…thank you so much for seeing it…
BLYTHART
Watercolours can so often turn out wishy-washy, but you achieve really beautiful rich colours … lovely!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Dave..it’s all in the technique and how you use the medium…
Carrie Glenn
Beautiful Janis…and an interesting story! Wonderful work! ;D
Janis Zroback replied
Pure fiction, as a metaphor for the things we pursue in life…thanks so much Carrie…nice to see you again…
Jim Phillips
Wonderful piece Janis, love the yellow in the background. It really brings the pines forward.
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Jim…glad you like it…it was tricky stuff to use…
mazzfarrell
Very nice
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you…
Gilly1
Wow, this is great you can really feel what is going on in the picture.
Janis Zroback replied
Welcome and thank you so much Jilly…
Bill Gamblin
Janis…this is so so aweome…I love the capture here…great job
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Bill…I was painting on a very difficult surface, so it was a challenge..I’m so glad you like it.
Janis Zroback
In looking for Cornelius, I climbed many mountains, wore out my shoes, tore my arms in pain, wept in misery…he was not there…then I stopped to rest beneath the trees…the quiet beauty of winter surrounded me…my cares slipped away ... Janis
thepaintedsoul
Hmmm. . . this painting works on me on a couple of levels. For some reason the gold makes me feel uneasy with the forest. Something subliminal happening I guess.
Janis Zroback replied
Do you mean the sun makes you feel uneasy?
Remember it’s a metaphor and not to be taken literally…if we were to take the most obvious one an an example….looking for Cornelius is a life long journey and many of us will never get there….but if there’s a little sun to light the way it makes the quest so much easier…his forests were incredibly surreal, though mean’t to be real…he romanticized everything..the artist is searching for his own vision of Cornelius’s work, but will never find it as it is impossible…two different people two different times and visions…
I could go on with the other two levels, but it’s 1.30 a.m. and I’m fading fast…
Tom Vaughan
mm…this is lovely…I can feel the snow!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Tom…glad you like it.
thepaintedsoul
Ah, you explained your thoughts way more than I expected. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why it made me uneasy. . . but I as I’ve thought about it, maybe it’s the smothering nature of the woods and that there is a light, but it’s fleeting by nature. It’s an intriguing story. Thanks for sneaking a little light into my thoughts.
Janis Zroback replied
Krieghoff’s paintings show a very romanticised version of early Canada, where the forests were, and still are overpowering…that’s the literal interpretation of the piece…from there it gets a little more complicated…
Cora Wandel
Janis, beautiful words and image as always. – Cora
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Cora…I’m so pleased you like it…
Linda Callaghan
great contrasts in colour Janis…for a second there when I looked at the painting I thought it was a golden fire creeping through the trees…but after reading the meaning – the sun is a much better thought! can just see the golden warm light caressing the tired bedraggled searcher of Cornelius and him/her opening their eyes for the first time to the beauty around them….gee went on a bit there didnt I …fabulous painting and meaning as always Janis
Janis Zroback replied
Yes there are many levels here Linda, the first being the artist is struggling to paint winter in Canada like the great painter Krieghoff did so many times, and found there was no use, as during the struggle he found his own style..
The traveller on a long journey trying to find someone who is going to give him the magic key to life..
Our journey through life itself when we follow futile dreams, not realizing what we need was here all along…
The genre of Chinese poetry which often describes travellers climbing many mountains literally and figuratively to find the teacher who will bring them wisdom…
jansnow
So beautiful Janis, congrats on your feature!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Jan…it’s so nice to see you again…
John Fish
I love this winder scene. beautiful composition and painting
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much John…I’m so glad you like it.
Marjorie Wallace
I like this alot. I was not looking for other meanings other than how this appeals to me. I find it visually compelling and drawn into the comfort and safety of the trees. Just lovely!
Janis Zroback replied
I’m so pleased about that Marjorie…first and foremost is the viewers initial reaction to the painting, then comes the artist’s own vision and intention…thank you so much…
Karin Taylor
beautiful pines Janis!!!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Karin…
GEORGE SANDERSON
Oh how we suffer for our art !!
Great picture, and great story, Janis !!!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much George…I’m reall glad you like it.
Solomon Walker
great christmas-like wonderland…
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much…
Alison Pearce
Beautiful painting and great thoughts Janis!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much….
Joanne Bradley
Love the composition on this one Janis. The cold of the blue and greens is so well balanced by that spot of warming sun at the top!
Janis Zroback replied
Are you familiar with the great painter?..I think he did the most paintings on Quebec and the Habitants, and Inuit…beautiful romantic works…
I’m glad you like this painting Joanne…thank you so much..
amarica
Beautiful work Janis!!! Congratulations on being featured in the The True Beauty group!!!
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much Amarica
PPPhotoArt
absolutely wonderful work Janis i adore the way you interpret trees!!!!!!
many congrats on your feature
Janis Zroback replied
Thank you so much..I’m really glad you like it.
ANNETTE HAGGER
Beautiful work Janis….........anna…; )
Janis Zroback replied
I’m glad you like it Anna…thank you so much…
Janis Zroback
lorilee 6 days ago
Beautiful – - – I love your work!!!!!
Janis Zroback replied 5 days ago
Thank you so much Lori…I really appreciate it…
katymckay 6 days ago
This has a magical beauty to it Janus and get such a comfort from the trees..there is always a lovely quiet feeling in snow and I am drawn into this woodland…and feel that once in i will be surrounded by the calm and peacefulness..Your paintings always speak to me…you have such a wonderful talent ..!!!!!!
Janis Zroback replied 5 days ago
What a wonderful compliment…thank you so much Cathy…very gratifying words indeed…
Janis Zroback 5 days ago
artisandelimage 1 day ago
Janis Zroback replied 1 day ago
Thank you so much Francis…