Like, if I won the lottery we'd buy a house with a backyard. Nothing fancy, just one where our dogs can run free. Well, as free as you can get with a fenced in yard. And of course we'd buy new cars and give a shitload to our family and to some of our friends. Not all of our friends, just our favorite ones. Basically, if you read my blog then I'm talking about you. You're a top favorite. A top contender for my hypothetical lottery money.
But my splurge? My splurge would be a Monet. Can one even buy an original Monet? I don't know how easy it would be to get my hands on one. I'm guessing it's next to impossible, but if I were to ever hit it big, I'd track down a Monet. I won't even be picky about it. I think any Monet will do just fine.
I went thrifting on Sunday with my parents (over at Davey's Vintage), and bought a Monet coffee table book. It was $4 and quite the splurge. In fact, at one point I talked myself out of it. Instead, I walked up to the register with a $2 famous painters and paintings book. As I stood at the register flipping through it, I said, "screw this!" I didn't even like the paintings in that book. So I talked myself into springing for Monet: A Retrospective.
Sure, it's the equivalent of two bean burritos more than the other book, but Taco Bell should never come between a girl and her love for Monet. They are all so gorgeous and lovely. Here are a few of my favorites:
5. Sunset on the Seine at Lavacourt: Winter Effect
4. Road in the Forest of Fountainbleau
3. Poplars on the Epte
2. Water Lilies (1916) (I love all the versions of Water Lilies, though)
1. Sunset at Etretat
Until I strike it rich, I'm happy with a print. Heck, I'm just grateful for my coffee table book!
So do tell, who is your favorite painter, and what's your favorite style?
I love Monet too, I'd have to say water lilies is my favorite of his although it was hard to pick between that and Road in the Forest. I also love just about any painting of seashores. Norman Rockwell is in my top 5 for sure although some may describe him as an illustrator. And now that I am thinking about art, I do love some abstract pieces with bright colors. I like Composition VIII by Kandinsky it's cool.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that about Kandinsky, but I'm glad I do now. His work strikes me as something Chad might like as well. I knew you were going to say Norman Rockwell, though! Thanks for sharing, Mom!
ReplyDeleteI like Kandinsky, too! Such different styles through his career, similar to Picasso (speaking of, I highly recommend a day trip to SF to see the Picasso exhibit at the DeYoung - it was here in Seattle before it went down there and it is just amazing).
ReplyDeleteMy favorite painter in recent years is Marc Chagall. His paintings of lovers are just so dreamy and relaxing. The colors are so wonderful, too (you know me, MOAR COLORRRR!).
Sheri, thanks for the recommendation! I see the exhibit is through 10/10, so I'm definitely going to have to check it out. And Chagall, wow! I have to say I wasn't familiar, but I can see why you like him. They're goregous, and I know you like color so even better! Really, his paintings are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteJeanne said,
ReplyDeleteMonet is my all time favorite. I was fortunate to attend a Monet exhibit in SF that included Winter Effect and Sunset at Etretat. It is said that after his wife died, he spent long days on the banks of the Seine painting sunsets; it was winter and very cold. The paintings were very moving.
How cool, Jeanne! SF sounds like the place to be for art exhibits, and I'm glad you had the opportunity to go. Sounds like it was pretty memorable as I imagine it would be :)
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