Martha writes :
We had a great Paint-In at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The staff was exceptionally welcoming and helpful. Many of us arrived early, and thus I was able to spot where we all landed! After that I was so engrossed in my own endeavor, I was able to break away for only a few moments at a time and I did not see who arrived later. I have some great photos to share. I include Chuck Marshall capturing the vitality of Sargent, Carin Heibenstreit painting an old Dutch Master, Mary Jean Weber giving Corot a run for his money, Barbara Chenault painting the whole scene below, Howard Krauss tackling an Impressionist, Marlene Steele with a Whistler (I think), and I did my best after Mary Cassett.  I name only a few. Other artists were downstairs…everyone being entertained by the Suzuki violin concert resounding throughout the lofty spaces. A Very Busy Day At the Museum!!!!! Over and over I heard from museum visitors, participating artists, and museum staff that WE SHOULD DO THIS MORE OFTEN! It was a success on many levels!

Mary writes :
"Rick said that he went down there thinking, 'hey, how hard can it be.........some guy a hundred or so years ago sets up a solid composition and all I have to do is steal it, and paint it in any way that I want........'
Rick adds :
"How so very, very wrong . . . it may start out that way, but as the painting progresses, you may find yourself asking, "how did he, or she, do that? . . . then you try to replicate not only color, but stroke motion, and a constant nagging as to why this painting works so well . . . one finds themselves, seeking the mental and emotional status of the original artist . . . this can be in a very subconscious way and you may find yourself reacting to the work from a totally different perspective . . . we won't pass up the chance to try this again . . . geez, we may even learn something from all of this effort . . . do you think?

Four of us painted at Dayton Art Museum yesterday--Diana Hoke, Linnae Wilson, Susi Havens-Bezaire and me. We painted in the American Impressionist section which was in the lower level. Susi painted a rocky cliff seascape with her unique palette and canvas holder. Lynn painted a pastel and a couple people watched her paint and said her painting was better than the one on the wall. Diana copied a colorful Georgia O'Keefe and I tried copying a Mary Cassatte. Maybe I'll go back and finish it - or try that one called "Approaching Storm" - with that wonderful light in the sky.

The security people were most helpful and came by a couple times to see how we were doing. They didn't have a stamp for the back of the canvas but they seemed to enjoy seeing what we painted for the day.          

 

We had a nice lunch in the Monet Room at the Museum - and lots of art talk too. When we left to check out we had to go through the main lobby with a long line of people waiting to get tickets for the Rembrandt show. It closes today  - no wonder it's so popular, he was such a master - just think he was out there painting landscapes without a camera.  It was nice there in the warm room, no bugs, the plastic trash bag didn't blow away.