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Archive for February, 2013

It’s President’s Day

Truman McCain Perot

Truman McCain Perot

On this President’s Day please indulge me as I celebrate “my presidents”.  These are the great dogs that have been a part of my life since I have been in Virginia, most of them named for presidents or first ladies.

Thomas Jefferson "Jeffie"  Walker

Thomas Jefferson “Jeffie” Walker

 

 

 

 

Eleanor "Rosie" Roosevelt Walker

Eleanor “Rosie” Roosevelt Walker

 

 

 

 

 

Jed Bartlett Walker (Named for the President on The West Wing TV Show)

Jed Bartlett Walker (Named for the President on The West Wing TV Show)

 

 

Abraham Lincoln Walker

Abraham Lincoln Walker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mamie Eisenhower Walker

Mamie Eisenhower Walker

 

 

 

 

 

And the honorary member of the  presidential troup - Miss Boo!

And the honorary member of the presidential troup – Miss Boo!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy President’s Day!

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O'Keeffe, Poppy, 1927

O’Keeffe, Poppy, 1927

O'Keeffe, Grey Hills Painted Red, 1930

O’Keeffe, Grey Hills Painted Red, 1930

While visiting Florida last week I got to see St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Art.  It was a wonderful museum with a nice variety of art.  I was drawn to the Georgia O’Keeffe paintings especially after my kids had just painted an O’Keeffe the week before.  (See that here.)  You can learn more about the poppy painting by clicking here.    You can learn more about the St. Petersburg Museum by going to www.fine-arts.org .

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SAMSUNG SAMSUNGGeorgia O’Keeffe, well-known for her very large paintings of flowers, said, “I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty.”

Last week  one of my longtime art students requested that we paint an O’Keeffe flower.  We chose the Calla Lily.  And didn’t the kids do a wonderful job with their interpretation?!

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Pats covered bridge  This is Pat.  She is the most delightful person and a really enthusiastic painter.  Pat’s painting of the covered bridge turned out GREAT!  Keep up the wonderful work!

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Monet's "Road to the Village of Vetheuil, Snow"

Monet’s “Road to the Village of Vetheuil, Snow”

Monet's "Springtime in Giverny"

Monet’s “Springtime in Giverny”

One of the best things about going to Florida to visit my friend, Linda, was that she loves art. So we visited many art venues while I was there.  And I loved every minute.  Right before boarding the airplaneMonet's Parliament to come home yesterday we stopped in at the Museum of Fine Art in St. Petersburg and what a lovely museum they have!  There was a nice Monet grouping there.  The winter and spring paintings were hung side by side so you got a nice idea of the versatility of his work and how he viewed seasons and color.  But the most interesting was the “House of Parliament”, Effects of Fog, oil on canvas, painted in 1904.  Monet did 19 canvas of the same size of the Parliament scene.  He did them depicting different seasons and times of day.  (Click here to see more info on series paintings by Monet.)  He started in 1900 painting the scene of Parliament from his hospital room.  He painted most of the 19 canvases though in his studio at Giverny changing the colors and tones of canvas to explore different times of day and seasons.  This is one way that artists improve is by exploring  light and color.  Monet was the master!

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Interesting Mail

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Riding around the neighborhood where I was staying this weekend on my visit to Florida I saw some interesting mailboxes.  Here are a few of the really different ones.

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Fresh! Fresh! Fresh!

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One of the most wonderful parts of my visit to Florida this weekend has been the gorgeous fresh fruit and vegetables.

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Not only are they delicious but I have been able to add some interesting reference photos to my file for painting in the future.

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But we didn’t always eat healthy.  We got in a little munchy bar food down by the beach while soaking up some rays and listening to some really good beach music.

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We went to a wonderful art festival yesterday that celebrated the Peace River in Arcadia, Florida. And while we saw many really nice paintings what caught my eye was the vendors set up outside with the community vendors. One was promoting their wildlife farm where you could see alligators. This little guy was their ambassador.

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There was also a vendor who featured skunks! That’s right, you heard me-skunks! And it was a rescue group that was looking to rehome the little stinkers as pets. Anyone want me to bring one back for you?

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I am enjoying a quick visit to Florida to see my painting friend, Linda. She picked me up at the airport and less than an hour later we were at the Tampa Museum of Art viewing a lovely show that was on loan from the Phillips Gallery in DC. It included this Edward Hopper called Sunday. Learn more at Tampa Museum of Art

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SAMSUNGHere is a great article from the Washington Post by Valerie Strauss from January 2013.  Creativity, confidence, problem-solving  are just three of the skills listed.  Take a second to click here for the rest of this interesting list.

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