This Italian Landscape has been painted by Jan Both in 1645. It can be admired at the Mauritshuis (https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/artworks/20-italian-landscape/)Museum in The Hague, The Netherlands. What do you see and how does it make you feel to look at this painting?

Elizabeth Caren explores the greek myth of Pygmalion and Galatea through a series of photographs. On her site you can find the entire series, but when you look at this first image, what are your first impressions and thoughts? What do you feel and what do you see inside of yourself? Pygmalion and Galatea (https://www.ecarenphoto.com/PERSONAL-%7C-FINE-ART/Pygmalion-And-Galatea/1)by Elizabeth Caren

The painting of the Dead Swan by Jan Weenix, dated from early eighteenth century is part of the permanent collection of the Mauritshuis Museum i(https://www.mauritshuis.nl/ontdek-collectie/kunstwerken/206-dode-zwaan/)n The Hague, The Netherlands. What thoughts and images does it evoque for you?

Among Johannes Vermeer's works, 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' stands out as his most renowned masterpiece. It defies traditional portrait conventions as it falls into the category of a 'tronie,' a painting featuring an imaginary character. Tronies capture specific types or characters, in this instance, portraying a girl adorned in exotic attire, donning an oriental turban, and showcasing an astonishingly large pearl dangling from her earlobe. Tell me what you think about it when you see it. The original can be admired at the Mauritshuis Museum (https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/artworks/670-girl-with-a-pearl-earring/)in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Adam Curtis is a British documentary filmmaker known for his thought-provoking and insightful films that challenge conventional wisdom and shed light on the complex social and political issues of our time. With his unique approach to storytelling and visual style, Curtis has become a leading voice in the documentary filmmaking world. ​ This video essay explores the work of Adam Curtis, a filmmaker whose documentaries may not be familiar to many viewers. While his films are difficult to comprehend, in the opinion of the presenter, he is one of the most important filmmakers working today. This is due to Curtis's recognition of a problem in society that no one else seems to be talking about. He describes this problem as a strange disconnect between the desire for change and the lack of new ideas for making a better society.

According to Douglas Hofstadter, analogy is the linchpin of human cognition, serving as a core principle that enables us to make sense of the world and recognize objects as belonging to specific categories. Analogies act as cognitive tools that facilitate our orientation in the world by allowing us to draw connections and identify similarities between objects or concepts that may initially appear unrelated. Analogies enable us to recognize objects as being in one category by highlighting common features or attributes shared by those objects. By identifying similarities and patterns, our minds create mental frameworks or prototypes that represent a category. When encountering a new object, we then use these prototypes as reference points to determine its category membership. Analogical reasoning allows us to generalize from familiar instances to new ones, facilitating our ability to categorize and understand the world around us. Analogies also help us navigate the complexities of the world by providing cognitive shortcuts. They allow us to draw from our past experiences and knowledge to make sense of novel situations, making connections and transferring insights from one context to another. Analogical reasoning enhances our problem-solving skills and fosters creativity by encouraging us to think outside the box and make innovative connections. In Hofstadter's framework, analogy is the cornerstone of human cognition, enabling us to orient ourselves in the world, recognize objects as belonging to specific categories, and make sense of complex information. It is a fundamental cognitive process that underlies our ability to learn, reason, and understand the world around us.

In this TED-talk Elizabeth Gilbert redefines the concept of genius, portraying it as a collaborative effort between the artist and a divine muse. She suggests that genius is not solely an inherent quality possessed by a select few, but rather a force that seeks willing vessels. Gilbert encourages a shift in mindset that values curiosity, openness, and collaboration with inspiration, rather than an individual's burden to constantly produce extraordinary works. By embracing the idea of a muse as an external source of inspiration, Gilbert offers a more compassionate approach to creativity, freeing artists from the weight of expectation and inviting a more inclusive and joyful creative process.

Painting by Roelant Savery, a Dutch Golden Age painter. The original painting can be seen at the Mauritshuis (https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/our-collection/artworks/1213-vase-of-flowers-in-a-stone-niche/)in The Hague, The Nehterlands. Do you want to share what you see in this paininting? Please do so in the comment section below.

You're a special snowflake, aren't you? So am I, so no biggie. Between us snowflakes, let us not turn ourselves or others into tear drops. 1️⃣ Be curious! 🤓 Why else would you even be here? We're here to learn and grow together. 2️⃣ Be outrageous! 🤪 We will keep this between ourselves, but show us what you keep in your closed fists. 3️⃣ Be kind! 💕 Respect others' opinions and perspectives, even if they differ from your own. We're all here to share and learn from each other. 4️⃣ Be compassionate! 🤗 Try it for a while, just as a change from the usual apathy. Who do you become when you care? Do you even know yourself? 5️⃣ Be playful! 🎉 Let that inner child out and see what she has to say about you. It is still in there. Remember, we're all here to learn and grow together, so let's embrace our curiosity, outrageousness, and unconventional ideas with kindness and compassion. Let's explore the unknown, challenge the status quo, and have fun while doing it! 🚀

Our path in the Land of Oz, has lead us to create the Ink and Wood - A look at art section. In this vibrant new section on the Land of Oz website, we explore and discuss a myriad of visual art pieces. It's an exhilarating journey through captivating artworks, where each participant brings their unique perspective to the table. We share our impressions, engage in lively discussions, and collectively enrich the experience by weaving a tapestry of creativity across the virtual canvas. Forum rules apply