Today I cried as I read about the ending of Georgia O’Keeffe’s life.  It’s amazing that she almost made it to 100.  (I know this, because my Grandmother made it to 102!)  Georgia lived a long full life, that’s for sure.  She had more stamina than most people have in half that long of a life.  But after many illnesses and her nervous break down earlier in her life, she decided that she wanted to become healthier.  Leaving her husband I’m sad to say was the only way that could happen for her.  She just couldn’t live with his insanity, adultery, and his bothersome family any more.  Who can blame her?  The last half of her life was a very simple life.  I’ve concluded that she had to have been more of a recluse than anyone I’ve ever read about.  But that was how she wanted to live – a simple life doing what she loved – her art!   Her little adobe house in New Mexico was her home.   

Here she felt serene, happy and motivated to work once she was totally on her own.  She seemed to have a somewhat harsh personality some might say, but I think it was because she didn’t trust people easily.  She was taken advantage of emotionally by her husband, and others tried to tell her how to be who they wanted her to be.  What I love about her most, though, was that she basically said, “the heck with everyone else!  I’m going to be my own person, do my own thing, and be happy. ” And that’s exactly what she did.

But don’t just take my word for it.  Read the biography I read.  It is called  “Full Bloom:  The Art and Life of Georgia O’Keeffe”, by Hunter Drohojowska-Philp.  I wrote a review for it at Goodreads, but didn’t say as much there as I have here.  On there you will see that the paperback is 480 pages.  I think the one I read was a little larger print (because I’m half blind)!  The one I read was about 545 pages!!  To date that is the longest book I have ever read.  I’ve read the whole Harry Potter series, but I read her seventh book in a few days!  As involved as that novel is, I was so engrossed in the story, I devoured it almost overnight!  However, this biography took me well over five weeks to digest.  But that is the difference.  There was a lot of stuff to think about and digest.   She was a complex person to understand.

As you can tell, Georgia O’Keeffe is my favorite artist.  What artists have you read about?  I’d love to be referred to some great biographical books on artists.  I’ve read a couple about Vincent Van Gogh and browsed some about other artists.  But the book I just finished was the best one about any artist that I’ve ever read.  Check it out!  I won’t tell.  After all, I got mine at the library.

Happy reading, painting, etc.  Have a great day and give someone you love a hug.