We found Matisse living in a small house, with a magnificent, sweeping view beyond his
vegetable garden. In one room there was a cage with a lot of fluttering birds. The place was
covered with paintings, most of them obviously new ones. I marveled at his production and I
asked him, "What is your inspiration?" "I grow artichokes," he said. His eyes smiled at my
surprise and he went on to explain: "Every morning I go into the garden and watch these plants.
I see the play of light and shade on the leaves and I discover new combinations of colors and
fantastic patterns. I study them. They inspire me. Then I go back to the studio and paint.
- Andre Kostelanetz, This I Believe, 1952

(With thanks to *Jill*, who, while we were talking about light the
other day, passed along that thought provoking Kostelanetz quote).
C J