V is for Vincent Van Gogh
This weekend, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, opens its exhibition 'The Real Van Gogh | The Artist and his letters'. What I will hopefully enjoy the most about this show is exactly the dual experience. The letters of the exhibition title refer to the correspondence between the artist and, mainly, his younger brother.
Bedroom in Arles
I always enjoyed to dissect visual things and get to know what is inside, or behind if you prefer, the creator thoughts. I love seeing sketches, plans, roughs, non-approved designs. I find the process itself fascinating. As much as the final piece. In his letters, Van Gogh included several of his studies and sketches that would eventually become masterpieces. 
My relationship with Van Gogh was derived from his use of colours,developed during his French period. More precisely, the shock he produced among complementary hues. "There is no blue without yellow and without orange." is a quote attributed to him. Well, accurate or not the credit, it describes in words the reproduction that adorns my bedroom:
Cafe Terrace at Night
Another piece of his that also warms me up, I learned to like very much after seeing the real thing in Paris.
Noon: Rest From Work (After Millet)
Interesting, I see now, more than the portraits or flowers and sunflowers, the works that most attract me have in common subjects such as resting, free time, pause...
References:
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/vangogh/
http://www.vangoghgallery.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gogh/
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