I started reading more about Matisse. I am reading Matisse in Morocco, at the moment. Many European artists visited North Africa during Matisse’s time.  The light in this equatorial region of the world must have been quite a change from that of the more northern latitudes. Matisse seemed to be fascinated by the Arabic influence in that region. In some of his work, he merged Arabian patterns such as those found in carpets and ceramic tiles, with floral patterns. “…[O]bservable nature and decorative system participate in each other… thanks to flowers.” (pg 40. The Moroccan Hinge by Pierre Schneider in Matisse in Morocco, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. 1990).

The Matisse-ish character of the work below is in the red and green colors, the window and the Arabic-esque design on the wall.

Inspired by Matisse
12″x9″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block