I had to post this photo. It had to be one of the funniest things I saw on vacation...

This is at the National Gallery of Art in DC- and this man was wearing a Bob Ross t-shirt that said 'Happy Trees.'

I'd like to share a few of my favorites from the two museums I visited. Im afraid I dont always know who painted them - I saw so many.

This first one had to be the one that I stared at the longest. I know it's Joan of Arc, but I need to research who painted it. This one was at the Met.

Forgive the bad photos. I was more interested in getting the surface of the paintings vs. the whole thing.

These are also from the Met.

Im not going to insult Sargent by posting any photos I took of his paintings, but they blew me away. I had seen one of his a couple years ago in San Antonio, and I was disappointed. It must not have been one of his best, because the ones at the Met were stunning. I couldnt have imagined the surface quality until I saw them in person.

I have to admit though, I was slightly disappointed at the Vermeers at the Met. They were so gray, the skin didnt look natural at all to me. BUT, when I saw several others at the NGA under different lighting - I was impressed.

This one is from the NGA and I heard so many comments about the subtle sensuality of it from my tour guides.

Overall, I have to admit I enjoyed the art at the Met more - even though I didn't see all of it. Occasionally though, I missed some that I should have gone back and taken a look at. I thought there were no W.B.'s, but Jimmie informed me that we went through that room and I wasn't interested in stopping. I remember seeing so many paintings with cupids and ladies all together on the walls, that nothing stood out....it was just too much.

One thing that impressed me so much was different paintings with fabric. And the tiniest of details on some paintings - they had to at times be using one-hair brushes.

This is a detail of a painting that maybe shows 3 inches.

Ok, I'll stop with this one.

I do not care for this style at all, but I was taken with the composition and what I saw as a very romantic painting. Well, that is until Jimmie informed me it was entitled 'Vampire.'

I have a yearning to steal this idea, but not as a vampire painting.

Im posting one more from the NGA for Michele - Garth happened to mention you were taken with this painting. I can't remember who painted what, or my children's names at times, but for some reason I remembered that comment.

Thanks, Kim. I liked how the fabrics were painted. Up close you'd swear you were looking at the gauzy shimmery stuff in real life.

Hey Kim, the Joan of Arc was by Jules Bastien-Lepage. You can find a full page with a critique of it here. I have'nt had the chance to read it, it's lengthy and I'm lazy. Just kidding, just in a rush. ARC has 24 images of his work, with a good-sized version of "Joan of Arc", but thankfully you saw the original first becuase the one posted in ARC is overly saturated. Anyone in the New York area should stop in to look at this piece.

Funny thing about you mentioning that you did'nt see any W.B.'s, now that I remember, they were the pieces hanging directly across from "Joan of Arc". I remember you turning around, seeing them and walking on. I even said that Fred (from ARC) would have been all excited right about now, I did'nt stress his work as you did'nt look interested in them. I've never been impressed by them myself. What makes things worse is you have to step back a considerable distance to eliminate the glare on top of the paintings.

You should do a quick search on Munch's "Vampire", there are different versions floating around, including drawings, one may inspire you more than others.

By the way, it's ok that you tell everyone that the guy wearing the Bob Ross shirt is actually me.

Jimmie! That guy isn't you, he was in DC! I saw Kim take that picture; in fact I took a picture of her taking that picture (I don't know why; I take too many pictures). For whatever it's worth, you are better looking. :D

Garth