I went to Bonnard Exhibition at the Met tonight with a friend; fantastic show that I will return to many times in the next few months.

Here’d 2 photos I took. The Self Portrait reminds me of one of mine.

Reading Ten Faves: Bonnard’s Open Window in Modern Art Notes I was immediately attracted to Pierre Bonnard’s Open Window (below, left) and thinking of my own Halo Still Life, on the right:

I was thinking that in an Artist’s work, there’s going to be ups and downs, things they respond to more, they do really well, and other motifs, that are not as “successful” (however that’s defined).

It’s hard to explain why the “open window” series is more successful, than, say, other paintings that Bonnard did – but almost all of his window paintings I respond to – where as some of his other scenes don’t always do it for me.

Sometimes, it’s impossible to really explain why some types of subject matter, maybe a particualar model even, lead to work that’s superior – it’s hard to explain even how that happens – and sometimes, it’s hard to even know how some paintings come to be.

For example, I was looking at some of my own work recently and thiking – why do I find those particular works more pleasing or successful? I don’t even know how I did my Self Portait last year – it sorta “happened” and if I tried to paint something like this today, I’d probably not be able to.