Art Influences this month

I am going in two-and-a-half or three directions at once right now. I have a Van Gogh book in the car that has 120 pictures with short descriptions. I love his use of color and brush strokes; the way that he juxtaposes different colors side by side rather than mixing to make a blended effect. I am also reading an book on impressionism. Finally, I am reading a book on Cubism.

I find myself personally drawn to Van Gogh and impressionism. That is the type of art that captures my eye, my attention, and my imagination. My own palate, subject matter, and style is similar. My view of a Tuscan winery shows the influences of Van Gogh's “Corn Field.”

I also see Van Gogh's influence in my father's paintings, especially his scene of a small harbor. The color palate is similar to the later paintings, but the brush strokes and subject matter remind me of Van Gogh's Amsterdam period (1885). Currently, the piece is in storage waiting for a new frame. I think I am going to pull it out, hang it on a wall and stare at it for a couple of hours. Growing up, I was lost in it and leaned to love every stroke and feature. In fact, I hope to spend a weekend going back though more of dad's and Paige's paintings and look at them again for the first time to marvel at their beauty and let them inspire me.

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Art