Last week I received an email from Martha. Her blog (Your Daily Art) is a great way to start your day and learn a little art history in the process. Martha used to live in Omaha and asked if I would paint the Joslyn Museum of Art on one of my plein air outings.
Great idea I thought. But the building itself did not inspire me at first. It is made of a strange pink/orange quartz like stone and it took me a while to warm up to it. Then the sun started to help me out casting some cool shadows.
The banner hanging from the wall is a painting by William Adolphe Bouguereau called Whispering of Love. It is part of an exhibit of paintings rescued from the New Orleans Museum of Art. This is the only way I would ever try to copy that guy's work ... from 100 yards away. He is one of the best figure painters of all time.
Here you go Martha. I hope it brings back pleasant memories of Omaha.
3 comments:
No Peter, that's not a William Adolphe Bouguereau yet, you have to practice somewhat more. Maybe a little closer would help? :-P
The museum is gorgeous tough, I wouldn't paint it in a 100 year I think. But you did a splendid job, with all the little people and the American flag. Very vivid.
Peter - wonderful job! I think you captured it just beautifully.
Martha
That is a jewel of a museum. I just caught the Bouguereau exhibit at the Frick in Pittsburgh. Amazing work.
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