I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and miraculously lost
10 pounds eating cookies. Now that I
think of it, I didn't get a single cookie.
This seems like a serious oversight since I'm pretty sure fortune
cookies don't count.
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| The view on the way into the National Gallery of Art |
I went to Washington, DC to visit a friend. I suggested going to the White House and
protesting, but 45 Christmased in Florida and there didn't seem much point to
making signs if he wasn't going to see them.
My friend and I went to the National Gallery of Art instead. Great art.
I highly recommend going if you're ever in DC. Even if you don't travel there, the museum has art lectures on
youtube. Look them up and learn
stuff.
I inquired where to find specific paintings I wanted to see
and the nice lady made a point of telling me not to miss a little room with
Vermeers in it. I was distracted when
she told me this and almost missed the significance of her recommendation. I peeked around a corner and woo! Vermeer!
Little gems that I really did need to see, and nobody else in the room
to bother my intense examination of them.
Lovely.
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| David's Cupid and Psyche in Cleveland beats Napoleon any day! |
I spent some happy time with Titian, Rubens, on and on and
on. My only disappointment was their
only Jacques Louis David painting is of Napoleon. I mean, it's really well painted, but who wants to look at
Napoleon? The Cleveland Museum of Art
has Cupid and Psyche. Cleveland wins!
The museum has a number of Rembrandts, but I'm kind of
specific in my love of his work. I was
thrilled to see his self portrait.
Nothing I can show on the web can compare to standing in front of the
reality. Imagine my little heart going
pitty pat at the texture and details.
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| Detail of Rembrandt's self portrait, but this doesn't do the original justice. The paint is caked on and has a fabulous texture. |
I don't think it's possible to fully appreciate the whole
museum in one day so I'll have to go back sometime. I got online to find these photos of paintings for this post and
realize how many things I still need to see there. It may take me a while to forget how much I hate driving in DC
first though. Once again, I got turned
around and frantic driving on illogical freeways. At one point I had to cross 4 lanes of traffic because they put
the exit ramp on the left side. Who
does freeway planning?!! I was busy
hyperventilating after this driving feat and missed my next exit which led me
in all sorts of other places I didn't want to go, and they charged me tolls for
the privilege.
My friend had to work some of the days I visited so I worked
on a new painting. It was pleasant to
have an art retreat for the holidays.
The image at the top is just a part of my latest piece. I'm rethinking a big chunk of the rest of it and may end up
painting over some of it. I hate it
when that happens, but it's my own fault for not starting with a better plan.
I hope you had a wonderful holiday doing what you like most
with the people you like best. Wishing
everyone a happy, healthy, successful New Year!!!
