13 April 2009

studying art and history



These are studies from a few weeks ago. I hope to try again while I still have daffodils in the yard. I haven't had the chance to paint or to comment on blogs lately.

We recently spent a few days in Philadelphia. We toured some historic sites, very inspirational, and we spent a day at the art museum. No, I did not run up the steps.

The exhibit Cezanne and Beyond was well planned, with an audio tour. It was interesting to see the ways in which Cezanne's work influenced artists who followed, but I was mainly focused on him. We also viewed a healthy collection of European Art 1850-1900.

As we headed back to Pittsburgh, we took a detour to Chadds Ford, to visit the Brandywine River Museum. It was so great to see the work of Andrew Wyeth, N.C. Wyeth, oh the many Wyeths. I lingered over Andrew's work, some of which included a written statement of his thoughts. It was heartening to see a painting dated 2008.

Our next stop was Shanksville, where we paid our respects at the Flight 93 temporary memorial. I was nearly oblivious to gentle rain and cold air as I stared out over the barren, sacred field. For a moment I imagined I was in a Wyeth painting, an expanse on the cusp of color. I'm at a loss to describe everything else I felt. I still have a lump in my throat.

15 comments:

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

Sounds like a wonderfully evocative trip.
At the Farnsworth Museum up in Rockland, Maine, a drawing by Jamie Wyeth is done on a corrugated cardboard, hanging on the wall.
Fabulous.
:( flight 93 RIP

Dar Presto said...

Hi Mary. I enjoyed Jaime's work, including some dynamic, sketchy images done on very large cardboard.

Marian Fortunati said...

Sounds like you are having a fabulous trip. I envy you.
So many people and events ... both wonderful and horrifying populate our lives and make our world wider... they set the bar higher for all of us.

Glad you're enjoying yourself!!

Love the daffodils... Maybe I'll try to paint some... I've got some in my yard.... doubt though that I'd do as well!

Jala Pfaff said...

Very cool post.
Also nice daffodils.
Oh those Wyeths!

Anonymous said...

Dar- a very thoughtfully tied in trip and commentary.
Nothing advances our desire to paint more than viewing some of the greats in person, close enough to count brushstrokes, realize that parts of the face are green, yet look just as skin does, and to appreciate the variety of styles.

Staring at the memorial site and tying into Wyeths'fields is quite fitting. I understand the throat lump- NYC was my home and my office was 2 miles from the towers...... it's still unfathomable.

Your daffodils are a welcomed and lovely reminder that life starts anew.

Laurel Daniel said...

Sounds like a great trip!!! And I love the green glass.

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

Very nice studies, Dar. The green glass is wonderful.

Nava said...

Love the portrait of the daffodil (nice color combination) and reading about your trip.

Dianne Mize said...

Dar, I've found a few moments to cruise through my favorite blogs (of which yours is one) and when I arrived here and looked at what you've been doing lately, I remembered back several months ago when you were first finding your way with oils. My thought is--by god, you've got it. I knew you would.

laine lea said...

enjoyed looking at blog today dar...and the trip sounds like so much fun! Art history.....hum!Sounds great!

Dar Presto said...

Sorry for my absence.
Thank you all for the thoughtful responses.

Dianne, even though I don't paint as often as I'd like, in my heart I'm committed to and excited about this journey.
:)

http://www.onpainting.wordpress.com said...

Dar, what the devil? We are going on a month here.

Nava said...

Uh oh Dar, now you've got Bill on your case... the only remedy for that is to blog again.

Dar Presto said...

I know, Nava, Bill is like a personal trainer. Now if only I could achieve abs of steel...

Jack said...

Thats really great postings..thanks for sharing..


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Jack
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