So I just remembered I had a blog and realized it hasn't been updated since my first update! oh dear.... the good news is I'm drawing all the time, the bad news is I'm not posting it!!! Sooo, as a new goal for the semester, I will commit to selecting my top 5 figure drawings each week and post my progress.
But coming very very soon, I'll be posting some silly drawings I drew while in the awesome city of Paris. It was a great experience going to France and experiencing the different culture, language, and sights during the entire month of July! The thing I found the most interesting about the trip was how much I grew to appreciate small aspects of the american culture that I had taken for granted before. This trip definitely opened my eyes to new people and places. Not to mention the fantastic museums, architecture, and history of France. Learning about the complex and particularly promiscuous history of the French Royalty is thoroughly entertaining, it's like a royal soap opera. Kings with multiple mistresses, Queens with cruel intentions, and Nobles with hushed secrets... oh boy. The stories are almost too much to take in and then seeing the actual castles and gardens of these historical figures is completely unreal. I was constantly looking around thinking "Someone actually LIVED here?!". Hearing about their lifestyles make me appreciate these times so much more!!
Overall one of my favorite places in France that I visited was Monet's Garden and his house. I will definitely go back to his garden in the future and spend an entire day looking, relaxing, and drawing. Walking into his house seemed like a dream. Japanese woodblock prints covered the walls and the color of the rooms were all different and vibrant. Entering the side room where Monet painted was a hit of AWESOMENESS. every inch of this room was Monet's paintings. I had to remind myself to breathe because my breath was literally taken away! Paintings with so much life, movement, color, harmony, emotion, and beauty was too much to handle. I've seen these paintings hundreds of times in books, online, and films.... but seeing them in person was unlike anything I've seen before. My favorite painting was "Les Bateaux rouges, Argenteuil". The vibrant colors, moving brush strokes, and relaxing setting made me feel like I was seeing exactly what Monet was seeing. And that was beyond cool! Even when I went to Musee d'orsay, I saw a ton more AWESOME paintings but whenever I saw a painting by Money, I felt relaxed and at ease. I just love him! The thing that really stuck me was actually how few painters I know. On the map of Musee d'Orsay, I noted ALL the painters I liked but didn't know. Maybe I'll complete something similar to the Ani50 book and study them in the same manner. There's just so much talent and greatness in the world and in history that's in my reach. (thank you internet!) Seeing all those masterpieces, I am excited to get back to school to learn more and answer a LOT of questions I formed while drawing and seeing.
