Robert Henri

Robert Henri The Spanish Gypsy 1912, Ink on Paper, 6"x4"

Once again I find myself in the Public Storage section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. First let me say how much I appreciate the non-tourist area of the Met. in this storage area, especially considering all the visitors to NYC for the holidays.

Second, Robert Henri is one of my favorite painters. I think the way he paints people is so sincere. Spanish Gypsy is hanging at my eye level and I felt as if we could have had a conversation while I was sketching this painting. Robert Henri has a book titled the Art Spirit and every couple of years I reread it and learn a little more than the previous reading. Sometimes I think about the dead painters and wonder which ones I would like to have studied with, he would have been one, among many others I would have chosen.

Other helpful books I read -

The Gentle Art of Making Enemies by Whistler
Hawthorne on Painting, Hawthorne
The Practice and Science of Drawing, Speed
Oil Painting Techniques and Materials, Speed
John Sloan on Drawing and Painting, Sloan

William Glackens The shoppers

William Glackens, The Shoppers 1907-08, Ink on Paper, 6"x4"

Metropolitan Museum of Art
American Stories Painting of Everyday Life 1765-1915
Now through January 24th

I made a couple of visits to this exhibition. For me, the first couple of rooms are of a more precise stiffer kind of painting and I much prefer the end of the exhibition with more expressive painting of the the 1900's. Over all I like the show and this is a sketch of part of William Glackens painting the shoppers.
I enjoy sketching from paintings because I honestly see the painting I am viewing. When I do not sketch I know I retain less information.

Gustave Caillebotte

Gustave Caillebotte, S.P. in Colonial Helmet 1873-4, Ink on Paper, 6"x4"

My version of his painting.

Willem Drost

Willem Drost S.P. 1662, Ink on Paper, 6"x4"

My sketch of his painting. I like to sketch paintings from books when I do not have much time. These little sketches keep me busy without the clean up of oil paints or printing.

James Tissot

James Tissot S.P. 1865, Ink on Paper, 6"x4"

My sketch of his painting. The colors in this painting are very dramatic the sketch just does not do his work justice.

Arnold Bocklin

Arnold Bocklin S.P. with Death playing the violin 1872, Ink on Paper, 4"x6"
This is my sketch of Bocklin's self portrait.