![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3A0VN2-MtSJ04xjUNC2Gobisl8XpamPQmg1kAY0X5PHswCA1MelF98ZfIuKs9xGSGssBAhWJ3vj-coVq4wnZbhjF4NUw1_4EZ_XeThW4ZdwPlMDCyTeHqHJ65xR70KC0n4N3amqelivgc/s400/VanGoghStarryNight.jpg)
My First Version (The Vortex in Which Van Gogh Lived):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo7yG73RV3gCW230tT7YNDlhmx_K74u82yewC9TsVPng7v0G6fNzVDbViDc4KtHCYJcmZdBByIJiQvAdUSpYnkLMshiSidhm_Wsa6QHCQKtGcsUXdd7v9TuEpguA4UU7psCDY1THxwrJ5/s400/VanGoghStarryNightCloud4.jpg)
A Day Later, My Second Version (The Vortex in Which Van Gogh Lived):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2g6vLXBjPLFTyD4lqvl9jNfKAbf7xwsncrWklg9REl8D9YOZA-kNG0kG5DJfCOfuPJsOAqfmOfp1bLZ8ibwdDohCv5rXAthuumswbCWApE7Rg6564aO8nCu0pBJ1G67VUOGS6vEYvFT4N/s400/VanGoghStarryNightCloud5.jpg)
My Third Version (The Vortex in Which Van Gogh Lived):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIQvXxk_F9YtQOvAhPvmXAIxI68VtUYGya804g0yrafabGrB6kizv9nCTepjFcUslEj5d9qFtSPdnx1gzTA-34a3HYTWEmXl7omACt3c4l-r8TGpbuL5dBQtPhibj9yl9vV943vJ1dGi6/s400/VanGoghStarryNightCloud8.jpg)
My Fourth Version, Birds Added (The Vortex in Which Van Gogh Lived):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGk1amPAiSqtsMaljoxIohRhAvxV8dCPA7D2f4vn87EAvOKZRs8XZBGSZbaTpX9oTkfcrXpth2pqcoI5LdRwX35v5OcmRuQVQC6M9yfTHsPzXEyZd8Gv33zyEA6Zv6LMtrGCSqZyBFYTI/s400/VanGoghStarryNightCloud11.jpg)
I don't pretend that my versions are anything special. Much of what makes Van Gogh's work so compelling is the fact that his style is original--mine is not.
I have built my versions on someone else's completed canvas and that may elicit well-deserved criticism.
I like my colors, although probably too cheerful for the subject matter. I'm not sure which version I like best, although the second version seems to depict better the sad and tragic life of Van Gogh.
The best artwork-y seems to emerge from lousy photographs. I kid you not.
If you try to build a derivative from a lovely photograph, you will find it difficult to get past the beauty of the original.