7000 Sunset Paintings - Some with grouse

"Nothing had changed over the years. His father always painted the same picture, a melancholy sunset. Now and then, if whoever commissioned the painting wanted one, he would add a grouse in the foreground. Wallander’s father was a drawing-room artist. He’d honed his skill to such a level of perfection that he needed never to change his motif. It was only when he’d reached adulthood that Wallander realised that this had nothing to do with laziness or a lack of ability, but that this continuity gave his father the sense of security he needed in order to live his life.”

"Dogs Of Riga"  Henning Mankel


This picture shown here is one take on the paintings done by Wallander's father. Click on the picture to go to the blog I found this painting. It does not really live up to the picture of the painting I had in my mind while reading these books....but how often does that ever happen? A movie or other depiction of the image your own imagination conjured up fails to hit the high mark? And, does it matter, really?

I was fascinated by the thought of the 7000 sunset (some with grouse) paintings the author attributed to Wallander's father throughout the series of books. It speaks to me of the obsession sometimes required by artists, driving them forever on and steadily forward in pursuit of their passions!

I think of how obsessed authors like J.R.R Tolkien or J.K. Rowling must have had to create the lush fantasy environments of Middle Earth and Hogwarts. The same can be said for the works of countless artists and musicians throughout time.  What part does obsession play in art?

I will have to think about it the next time my youngest daughter shows me one of her thousands of yarn squares.

My whole life, my whole soul, my whole spirit is to blow that horn... Louis Armstrong 

Cheers, nca