Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, The First Thanksgiving, 1914
Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, Massachusetts
'Tis the season to be grateful. Emails and blog plosts are flying throughout the internet, touching down in our inbox, and reminding us all to be grateful as Thanksgiving, a favorite American holiday, fast approaches.
Yes, I am grateful. Slices of a savory turkey topped with a homemade tangy cranberry sauce, roasted sweet potatoes dripping with butter, a fat slice of spicy pumpkin pie (did I make you hungry?) and last, and most importantly, my long awaited daughter’s visit from afar. But this year, in the spirit of the holiday, it also occurred to me how grateful I am for a particular set of artists. Master artists, always ready and willing to teach and inspire, have been giving me guidance and lessons throughout my art journey. These talented and skilled artists are long gone, and yet their presence can still be felt centuries later, in museums, in books, and in my studio.
These artists are too many to name, but there are some that stand out above the others. I would love to share with you some of my lessons received from these greatest of the greats:
1. Michelangelo
I can remember it like yesterday. It was the first time I saw my mother cry from the beauty of a piece of artwork. We were at the World’s Fair in NYC, viewing Michelangelo’s powerful Pieta’. I doubt if I understood the lesson at that young age, but the fact that the memory is seared into my mind tells me how much this masterpiece has impacted my art life.
Michelangelo, Pieta', c. 1498-1500, marble
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
Lesson: Art has the powerful ability to communicate such incredible humanity and emotion, that it can strike a nerve deep in our hearts.
2. Rembrandt
The first time I saw an original Rembrandt self portrait was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I stood in front of it in awe, stunned by the sense of touch that I felt. I could literally feel his skin, his bulbous nose, and the wrinkles in his forehead. I had never before been aware of this "fourth dimension" of art.
Rembrandt, Self Portrait, 1660
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
Lesson:
What I call the “fourth dimension” of representational art is often referred to as “tactile values”. The drawing or painting that has tactile values, not only looks like the subject, but feels like it as well.
3. Winslow Homer
Winslow Homer has always been a favorite of mine. I am insanely crazy about all his watercolors, from the detailed pencil and watercolor drawings of a seaside-fishing village to the vibrant broad brushed paintings of the Bahamas. Winslow Homer said of his outdoor painting jaunts: “ I prefer every time a picture composed and painted outdoors.”
Winslow Homer, Flower Garden and Bungalow, Bermuda, 1899
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
Lesson:
An outdoor watercolor painting, whether tightly rendered or loosely expressed, can be every bit as powerful as a heavily worked studio oil painting.
4. Rosa Bonheur
Rosa Bonheaur adored her animals and devoted her artistic life to capturing them with dignity in her sketches and paintings. She filled her sketchbooks with drawings of animals from life, and what life she injected into her paintings of them!!
Rosa Bonheur, Royalty at Home, 1885
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis
Lesson:
In our hi tech digital world where amazing photos are at our fingertips, we must remember that the greatest art can come from sketching from life.
5. Carl Larsson
Carl Larson was a Swedish painter, trained in the academic tradition, and began his art career as an illustrator. One very rainy summer, he could not go outdoors to paint. So he began to paint his lively children and beautiful home, which was decorated by his artist wife. This became his life’s mission, and his paintings soon became a national treasure throughout Sweden.
Carl Larrson, Nameday at the Storage House, 1898
Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden
Lesson:
We don’t have to travel to exotic locations to find inspiration—it may be right in front of us—in our homes, our neighborhood, our city.
6.Raphael
In my early training I fell in love with Raphael’s “La Donna Velata” (Veiled Woman). So much so, that day after day, I would just look at it and absorb it’s elegance and beauty. I didn’t know much about art at the time, but now I understand that Raphael harnessed all of his Renaissance skills to create one of the most gorgeous paintings of all time.
Raphael, "La Donna Velata", 1514
Palazzo Pitti, Florence
Lesson:
Training and skills do not hinder, but rather enhance our ability to express beauty in art.
7. Vermeer
Vermeer’s painting “The Girl With a Pearl Earring” is so loved by people that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City based a whole exhibit on it. Her captivating expression draws us in, and the colors sparkle iike jewels. I was lucky enough to see this fabulous exhibit, and I promise you that this particular painting deserves every acclaim it receives.
Vermeer, "Girl with a Pearl Earring", 1665
Mauritshuis, Hague, Netherlands
Lesson:
Perfectly balanced notes of color, that are subtly blended can create a magnificent sense of form and character.
Do you have artists that you admire and have they had an influence in your life? We would love if you would share in the comments below.