Born on March 30, 1853, Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionist who didn’t paint until his late twenties but produced more than 860 oil paintings, as well as several thousand drawings and watercolors before he died of a gunshot wound at the age of 37. And while his bright, colorful, energetic work was not appreciated by the art world and collectors during his lifetime, he is now one of the most recognizable artists in history.
Of all the paintings by famous artists that I have done with my kids classes and at Art Camp the one, by far, that the kids know and want to paint is Starry Night.
Van Gogh’s brother, Theo, who was an art dealer, supported him throughout his life. Theo died six months after Vincent. Theo’s wife, Johanna, inherited the bulk of Vincent’s paintings and it was she who promoted his work after his death and because of her constant promotion, we know Vincent Van Gogh today as the wonderful painter he was. 
One of my favorite Van Gogh paintings, Blossoming Almond Tree, is one that his family cherished. Van Gogh painted this piece as a gift to his brother’s newborn baby. Vincent was deeply moved when they name the baby Vincent. It is an excellent example of the Japanese influence in art that he admired.
The Studio 