On a similar forum on a music board the subject of art came up. Favourite paintings. It's a difficult choice, there's so many styles and genres, so I'll share some of mine. I'd be interested in yours. My favourite artist is John Singer Sargent. He was very talented. I've had this as the background screen of whatever computer I've been using, for decades. Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. It took him weeks to paint it as he'd rather play badminton, than get on with it when he went to the house. So only spent a few minutes painting in the evenings when the "light was right." I admire him as an artist as he could paint in different styles. Most famous as a portrait painter of the "upper classes." Huge numbers of these works. An example. Beatrice Townsend at the age of twelve in 1882. The daughter of a New York lawyer and politician friend. I think he captured her vibrancy, It's sad to think that she died of peritonitis, two years after this was painted. But he could also paint land and seascapes. The Oyster Gatherers Another favourite is Norman Rockwell, the illustrator, who painted the cover for the Saturday Evening Post, week in week out for decades. Click to expand... I discovered him when I was at grammar school. The school bought the Saturday Evening Post and put it in the library each week, (I also looked at the adverts for American cars). I had to buy it myself each week once I left school. "Every picture told a story."
I lean heavily to the Spanish artists--Goya, Velasquez. I also admire Matisse, Renoir, and Degas. We don't have any as wallpaper on our computer, but we do have reproductions hanging all over the house. (We have a Van Gogh on the bathroom wall--make what you want of that.)
Art was one of my best subjects at school. I've not touched a brush for nearly fifty years. Stuff I painted in my twenties and thirties I chucked out years ago as it wasn't that good. Though my wife insisted on keeping this one. It hangs on the wall of the landing of our hall stairs.
It's a shame you chucked out your paintings. Your wife is right--that is a keeper! Rather evocative of Van Gogh's painting of fishing boats at St. Marie's. Glad she made you keep it and hang it. Perhaps it is time to pick up the brush again?
(We have a Van Gogh on the bathroom wall--make what you want of that.) I guess you do not stay in the bathroom very long !! I am in the realm of the impressionists !!
