A Visit to the Guggenheim

We recently took a trip into Manhattan to visit the Guggenheim Museum. They were having an exhibit of black and white works by Pablo Picasso, and we were all excited to see it! Here are some photos of our visit and sketches that we created while there.

Thank you to the Guggenheim for still printing postcards of current exhibitions! A lot of the museum shops have turned into design oriented gift shops that have nothing to do with the art being shown. A postcard is the perfect memento, especially for kids, without having to purchase a full sized catalog.

The museum is also a chance to discuss Frank Lloyd Wright and his brilliant architecture! If you get the chance to visit, remember to take the elevator to the top floor, and walk the galleries by descending. And locals, our library has a museum pass which you can borrow for free admission!

Stained Glass Inspired Self Portraits

I have a student and friend who is nearing her college years, and intends to study art. We have been working together and with my family to create some new pieces of artwork that may be added to her portfolio. Here is our first endeavor.

We took inspiration from stained glass panels to create these self portraits in ink and concentrated watercolor. We first sketched our self portraits in pencil, trying to fill the page with as much face and as little background as possible. Then with bold strokes and waterproof ink, we painted the initial outlines of our pieces. Watercolor was then used to fill areas, and non-realistic colors where encouraged. A second round of ink and watercolor wash were added, as well as waterproof markers to add details and render color areas further. As you can see the stained glass reference was loosely observed, but I think helped give us the opportunity to think in a more graphic style. Did I mention how much I love making art with others? Great job everyone!