Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Daily Painting Practice - Plein air Day 20 - Steps to the Joslyn

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.
click on the image to enlarge the picture

Steps to the Joslyn
8"x10"
oil on canvas board
SOLD

Here you go Martha. I hope it brings back pleasant memories of Omaha.

3 comments:

René PleinAir said...

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.

Unknown said...

Peter - wonderful job! I think you captured it just beautifully.

Martha

Anonymous said...

That is a jewel of a museum. I just caught the Bouguereau exhibit at the Frick in Pittsburgh. Amazing work.