John Ruskin: "All great and beautiful work has come of first gazing without shrinking into the darkness"

Quotes and paintings by John Ruskin

• "All great and beautiful work has come of first gazing without shrinking into the darkness".

• "Tutte le opere grandi e bellissime nascono dall’aver prima guardato, senza indietreggiare, nell'oscurità".

• "We blanch cotton, and strengthen steel, and refine sugar, and shape pottery; but to brighten, to strengthen, to refine, or to form a single living spirit, never enters into our estimate of advantages".

Ilham Mirzayev, 1965 | Abstract painter

Ilham Mirzayev was born in Nakhchivan, the Azerbaijan Republic.

He studied at the Azerbaijan State Art School named after Azim Azimzade (1980-1984).

He is a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan (1989) and the Union of Artists of Nakhchivan AR (2012).

Zhang Jing Sheng, 1940 | Plein air painter

Zhang Jing Sheng 张京生 is a Chinese painter, professor and tutor for graduate students at the Tianjin Fine Arts Academy.

He received State Allowance.

In 1967, he graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Central Fine Arts Academy.

He won the silver prize at 'The Chine Fine Arts Exhibition'.

Between 1989 and 1990 he went to America to visit scholars and hold an exhibition, at the request of the Tao Sen University.

Sir Derek Walcott | Amore dopo Amore / Love after Love

Tempo verrà

in cui, con esultanza,

saluterai te stesso arrivato

alla tua porta, nel tuo proprio specchio,

e ognuno sorriderà al benvenuto dell’altro,

Steve Hanks

Romona Youngquist, 1960 | Plein air painter

"My lifestyle hasn’t changed much since early childhood.

I live on a little farm with my family in the middle of Oregon wine country; I still hang out in the woods with the dogs and my own kids; and I still collect a wide range of critters.

When I’m not painting outside, I paint in my studio in order to keep an eye on my kids and pets, while listening to my favorite Bach, Handel and Mozart" - Romona Youngquist.