A Work of Art
November 08, 2011 at 3:11PM
In 1911 Wassily Kandinsky, an influential Russian painter and art theorist credited with painting the first purely abstract works, published Concerning the Spiritual in Art in which he wrote:
Our minds, which are even now only just awakening after years of materialism, are infected with the despair of unbelief, of lack of purpose and ideal. The nightmare of materialism, which has turned the life of the universe into an evil, useless game, is not yet past; it holds the awakening soul still in its grip. Only a feeble light glimmers like a tiny star in a vast gulf of darkness. This feeble light is but a presentiment, and the soul, when it sees it, trembles in doubt whether the light is not a dream, and the gulf of darkness reality.
Ursula O’Farrell, an Aptos artist who studied the paintings of Kandinsky, has a distinctive way of viewing the world and an incredible talent for painting what she feels – evocative images portraying ancient stories of motherhood, family and community asking and responding to the indelible questions of whence we came, why we are here and where we are going.
Humbly discharging attempts to label her style Bay Area Figurative, Ursula traces the ancestry of her painting to German Expressionism, which one may say evolved from a prior period of Impressionism.
When asked about this evolution Ursula explained, “For me, Impressionism relies heavily on the utilization of one’s eye and mind to enjoy the painting’s essence. A viewer’s response to an Impressionist work of art will often keep the primary sensation at an optical level – stimulating us primarily from the chin up.”
“Expressionism (1910) however, came along as the antithesis of Impressionism (1870s) and opened the doors for viewers to experience paintings at a deeper, more soulful level – inviting us to experience the full spectrum of human emotions. Expressionistic paintings often explore and reveal the mysteries of life – allowing room to share our secrets, confront our innermost selves and, accordingly, resonate deeply into our hearts, into our stomachs and into our very souls.”
Ursula O’Farrell’s paintings are sensual, filled with deep texture and vivid color flashing unbounded in the expressions of women, people and relationships (www.ursulafineart.com).
Like standing before Albus Dumbledore’s Mirror of Erised, gazing pensively upon one of Ursula’s paintings may transcend the images on the canvas reflecting instead stories from one’s own past or glimpses of the future – one’s own ‘heart’s desire’.
But, as Professor Dumbledore warns, “it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.”
And live she does. A working artist whose renown is steadily on the rise, Ursula and her husband Mike live a good life. First and foremost, they are in love – anyone who meets them will see that immediately. She is very prolific in her painting, they are both very focused and they are both very active. Her expressive paintings are currently shown in five galleries across the country: Craighead-Green Gallery in Dallas, Texas; Patricia Rovzar Gallery in Seattle, Washington; Gallery North in Carmel; Toomey Tourell Fine Art in San Francisco; and Bryant Street Gallery inPalo Alto.
In addition to her extraordinary career and rigorous schedule as a painter (yes, believe it or not, painters have rigorous schedules), she and Mike maintain busy social lives and are closely connected with and involved in the lives of their six children.
And, as if this is not enough, Ursula and Mike are about to acquire a new home in Corralitos. They were looking for a place where they could immediately feel the presence of love and home; one that would joyfully welcome visits by their grown children, relatives and friends. As we discussed at length both literally and metaphorically, there is a significant difference between the meaning of a house and the meaning of home.
About home, Ursula says while pressing her hand to her heart, “Home is the place that we all want to go. It brings us joy. A place deep inside of us where we are safe, cherished, adored . . . a place where we belong.”
In the case of the new O’Farrell home, this feeling is nearly inescapable. This one-of-a-kind Tuscan Villa, surrounded by tranquility and beauty, says ‘welcome’ to anyone lucky enough to visit, much less live, in such a setting. And just as “home” should, this property feels very familiar to Ursula and Mike given their roots in Italian culture and heritage.
Like every house that is bought or sold, this one too has an intrinsic story due to the experience and history of the people who built it and lived in it. With loving affection this house was constructed five years ago by Lincoln West Builders Inc., a locally owned company that has built custom homes using sustainable building practices whenever possible along the Central Coast, South Bay and Peninsula for over 25 years. The sale is represented by PERTRIA, a real estate investment firm and Linda Burroughs Real Estate.
Once, in a lullaby, a young Dorothy wished upon a star and wound up where the clouds were far behind her – in full spectrum Technicolor – where she learned much about the significance of her own life. An arduous journey through enchanted forests and deadly poppy fields where packs of flying monkeys darkened the skies and witches battled over turf forever reframed her understanding of Love, Courage and Wisdom.
When Dorothy finally clicked the heels of her ruby slippers together and said ‘goodbye’ to Oz, she repeated a powerful mantra, summarizing in a single sentence an epic tale of the human spirit that lives deep within us all:
“There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”
