Around 2002, I visited Claude Monet’s house in Giverny, Northern France.  The waterlilies and pond and his gardens were a delight.   Standing amidst the throngs of tourists, I could imagine how the house and garden, that Monet built for his home, must have served as a creative haven that nurtured and inspired his artistic work.  Interestingly, here he was the landscape architect who designed the scenes for his paintings.  He had to use some persuasion from friends in Paris to convince the town of Giverny to allow him to create the pond.  Aren’t we glad he was able to do this.

Monet’s paintings have a calming and meditative quality that is universally appealing and they are beautiful.

Here are my paintings following this visit to Giverny.

 

 Water Blossoms, each 48 in x 36 in, Acrylic, 2002

One painting of Monet’s in particular, that of the Cathedral of Rouen at the Getty Center in LA, amazed me.  Close up it was a maze of painted dots that was completely undecipherable of any form or subject matter, but at a distance the Cathedral was clearly defined with exquisite detail.   It was just as I had seen it during my visit in Rouen.  The nuances of the lights and shadows for the architectural details was nothing short of masterful!

The following paintings were inspired by Monet and the work of the impressionists.

Cherry Blossoms, 24 in x 20 in, Acrylic, 2003

Forest, Acrylic, 18 in x 16 in, 2003

Peacock, Acrylic, 18 in x 16 in, 2003

As I write about Monet, one anecdote from last year at around this time (August 2012) comes to mind, I had a dream and it has stayed with me.  One of the details in the dream was a clear image of one of Monet’s artworks.  When I awoke, I had to search for it.  It was not one I readily remembered or knew off hand.   I share it with you now and hope you enjoy it as well.

“Poppies, Near Argenteuil,” Claude Monet, 1873