MMP series #1 - Monet's A Woman in a Garden

6x6 acrylic on stretched canvas

image wraps on 1-1/2 inch sides

NFS

This is the first of a series I have been meaning to do for quite some time - the Mini Master Pieces. MMP as I've nicknamed it, are small pieces of some of my favorite master artists works. I did this mini painting quite some time ago, and filed it in the back of my mind as a great start to a mini series where, rather than attempt to paint the entire image, I would focus on certain areas of some of the master's works that I love.

This piece is from Claude Monet's "A Woman in a Garden" painting, circa 1867, which is captioned as "a study on the effect of sunlight & shadow on colour." Here is a photo of the full original:

My rendition was, by no means, easy! I chose to focus on the center tree and the mounds of red flowers beneath it. Quite a challenge, but it taught me much on color next to color. And also the subtle differences that light does to the color of receding items. 

I had the pleasure of seeing this painting in person, many years ago in my college days. I had visited an impressionistic exhibit at the Whitney Museum in NY. I found the exhibit mildly interesting until I saw this one painting on a wall. I don't remember a single other painting from that day except for this one. I must have stood in front of it for a good 1/2 hour, just studying it. Photographs do not fully capture the light, the color & the shadows as he handled them. A wonderful piece of art! So it's no wonder that I chose to do a piece of this masterpiece. This proudly hangs on my wall in my studio - and never have I walked past it without smiling!

I am not sure how often I will add to this collection - I am hoping to continue with these mini's for quite some time. I have a lot of favorite artists & a lot of favorite works!