I went to the museum with my granddaughter

I took my granddaughter to the art museum.  She is eight and half.  She loves to draw and enjoys having “projects” to do.  I was really looking forward to this at the Portland Museum of Art.  Winslow Homer and Fredrick Remington were on special display together.  They painted about the same time and came to painting the same way.  They both started as illustrators, narrating news, Homer, the Civil War and Remington the Spanish American War.  They both hated war but for both it helped them promote their career.

Of course I was familiar with the Wild West watercolor paintings of Remington and his amazing sculptures of cowboys and horses as well as Homer, a Maine Painter, with lots of moody scenes featuring oceans.  We have a print of Remington above our TV in the living room.  I had no idea Remington painted in oil.  I loved both painters transition from the illustrative to the painter.  Remington surprised me by capturing movement in his painting and the hot weather.  Amazing.  My granddaughter was not so impressed.

I asked my granddaughter as we enter the show, look for what you like the most and why and what do you hate the most and why.  Well just because she likes to draw does not mean she likes to go to museums.  I had hoped she would be inspired but alas, she was not.  Even though the exhibit was well done she was unimpressed.   She did answer my questions though.  She like the Winslow Homer people in the water because she likes to swim, and she hated everything else.  Oh well she is after all only 8 ½.  One can only try.  I however, was inspired by the Remington.  I loved the way he captured motion.  I am now challenged to also work to capture motion, a story, make you think, make the viewer feel something, hear something and finish the story.  I love going to art museums. I always come away inspired and challenged.