One of the things I do as an artist, is look at the work of other artists. I study their use of paint, thick/thin, wash or impasto. The types of brushstrokes, bold, tight, long, short. The way they their edges meet, sharp or diffused. I also look at their palettes, the selection of colors which often set the mood of a painting. Each painter has their own signature in the way they apply paint. It’s just like a non-artist’s signature, none of them are ever the same. There are endless lessons to be learned by studying closely the work of other artists. These works were at the Getty in Los Angeles, California.
There is so much I like in van Gogh’s work and also so much that doesn’t resonate with me. We don’t share at all the treatment of paint. But we do share the fact that we’re both Dutch and love flowers.
The only painting we usually see by Edvard Munch is “The Scream”. But, as I looked closely at the surface of this painting, I related so closely to the thinness of his washes of pigment. They were so subtle and beautiful up close.
I love that museums now post information about the paintings and the artists. When I started going to museums, that was not the norm. Museums didn’t cater to educating their visitors. Now everyone can learn so much more about the artist and the work with the information posted with each painting.
Sorolla used such a quick way of capturing fleeting moments in his art. He has such a virtuosity with paint that he captures very quickly the subtleties and the moments of what he is sharing with us.
Sorolla seemed to have little patience for long, drawn-out, detailed work. The speed in which he seemed to work always has impressed me, and given me a goal to work towards. I too am not very patient.
These daily studio notes lead toward my 2026 solo exhibitions in New York City and Poughkeepsie, NY.
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February 26, 2026 — No Comments
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