While I spent most of my week of rest at home, I knew getting out would be beneficial.  I also knew that it would be good for me and my mom to have a fun day together since our last day together was so sad.  We both burst into tears when she came to the door, feeling acutely that Sebastian wasn’t there to greet her, wagging his entire hind end with happiness.  But once we hugged it out, we were ready to have a good time together, to gather some inspiration, and enjoy each other’s company.  Usually, when we get together, we work.  We wear paint-splattered clothes, only stop for a cut apple and some cheese and crackers, and finish the day tired.  But this was going to be a proper mother-daughter day out.  I selected a few things to do that felt fun – visiting the local art museum, having lunch at a bistro, hitting one of my favorite antique stores, and going to any shops my mom requests.  We started our day at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.

Let me start by saying it’s a crime that I haven’t been to this museum yet.  It is inexcusably close, it’s free to get in, I’ve known about it since we moved here, and I just haven’t gone!  You know how that is…when something is in your own backyard, you figure you’ll visit it someday.  It’s easy to put off.  Well, today was the day, and I’m so glad we went.  I knew they had a nice collection that included some artists I’m familiar with, like William Merritt Chase, Willard Metcalf, and Childe Hassam.

One of the current exhibits features photographs of Frida Kahlo’s life.  She’s never been one of my favorite artists, but there were some beautiful photographs displayed, interesting information about her life, and a seating area with a coffee table appropriately covered in coffee table art books about Kahlo’s life and art.

I was eager to see the paintings, though, so we moved through the temporary exhibition pretty quickly.

I didn’t make a note of the names of the works and the artists, but I’ll share some of my favorites.  I loved this portrait of a yachtsman.  So many people said the subject resembles one of the Sutherlands, Keifer or Donald, and now I can’t unsee it!

This little collection caught my eye, especially the landscape with the windmill and the woman’s portrait on the bottom left.  I really like the composition of that one.

Of course, the cows caught my eye!  I loved all three of these, even the one of the bottom right that is a little more folksy.

The painting below is by Willard Metcalf, a notable American landscape Impressionist painter.

I enjoyed seeing this one up close.  There is so little definition in the paint, and I was surprised at how much of the toned canvas showed through.  There are just streaks of color, not really even blocks or shapes.  It’s a very cool artistic language.

This little gem was hard to photograph, but I loved it.  It’s so simple, yet there is so much texture and depth.

I was excited to see a piece by William Merritt Chase in person.  I left the light switch in the picture for scale.  It’s a huge still life!

I took a long time to admire the brush work as well as his recognizable signature.

This painting is a riot because it’s a self-portrait of the artist, who was over 50 years old at the time it was painted.  Who needs Photoshop and filters when you can paint portraits?

I didn’t take a picture of this entire piece, but I was smitten with the stockings and shoes.  I love painting old shoes.  I think there is so much personality in them.  The texture and color of the stockings is fabulous as well.

But the painting that called to me from across the room and was the highlight of the collection was this portrait by Robert Henri.  I was familiar with him from reading his book, The Art Spirit, and have seen some of his works in my art books, but I’ve never been able to find a current, comprehensive retrospective of his work.  I loved this portrait right away.  It might be because it reminds me of my boys when they were younger, but I think it’s more than that.  I love the colors used, the brush strokes, the slabs of color on his “jumper”, the expression, the eyes, and the dark background.  It’s the kind of painting I will drop in to visit now and then.

I decided to take another go at finding some good art books featuring his work, and I ordered a few used books on Robert Henri, The Eight, and The Ashcan School.  I’ll let you know which ones are winners.  I’m hoping one day there will be a comprehensive, gorgeous book with great reproductions of Henri’s portraits.

I took lots of pictures, though, and I plan to do a study of this painting.  I think I’ll learn a lot in the process.

We went to lunch at Bistro 11.  I had been there once before, and it was excellent, so I was hoping it would be a nice treat for me and Mom.  It didn’t disappoint.  She ordered a shrimp wrap, and I had vegetable Parmesan risotto.  It was delicious and nice to sit and talk over a good meal instead of quickly grabbing something like we usually do when we’re together.

Lying around and watching episodes of The Crown can be restful, but going to a museum is something that will not only be restful, but will fill my creative well and stoke my imagination.  And it did.  I felt rejuvenated and excited to get my palette and paints out.

I’ll share about the antique store visit next…