The Met and Michael Klein

I am in New Jersey visiting my sister.  When our now grown children were young, we would all spend a week or two together each summer doing fun kid related vacations.  Now, my sister and I still spend the time together, but we plan painting related vacations.  We just got back from 4 days in New York City.  She wanted to take Michael Klein's "Flower Painting" workshop, at Grand Central Academy of Art, so, I took it also.

Our first day in NYC we spent at the Met.  I couldn't get over how many people of all ages were there!  How wonderful that so much of humanity is interested in art!  Inside, the museum didn't seem crowded, but when we came out there were lots of people sitting on the steps enjoying the sidewalk musicians.  I asked at the information booth what the attendance for that day was:  20,000!!

The next 3 days were spent in the workshop. This is my day 1 piece, (I was not able to finish).  Michael is a realistic artist whose approach to painting is based on a strong theoretical and scientific study of  form and nature.  My background is based on observation and color.  It was great to see another approach and to step outside of my personal comfort zone.  I find that makes me think, learn, and grow.  He talked a lot about form;  the form of each individual flower as well as the form of the overall still life.

I have not finished posting my Alaska plein air pieces, yet.  I'll get back to those soon.