Claude Monet part 2: Monet's Garden

Monet Series: part 2 of 3

Monet's magnificent gardens are absolutely stunning especially being here in the late spring. Color is exploding everywhere; my camera shutter button is on fire. As an artist I don't know where to start as my focus is constantly being interrupted by what my mind perceives as a better motif. I can only imagine Monet coming out here every day and having a vision feast. In the Monet show at the Denver Museum there is a video of Monet painting in his garden. Palette in his left hand, brushes in his right and a cigarette with ashes an inch long hanging out of his mouth. First he glances at the garden, and then grabs some paint, and then he adds one stroke, back to the garden, paint and stroke. What’s really amazing is that the canvas he has in front of him is huge.

Here I am painting by his lily pond all the while being serenaded by what seems like hundreds of frogs. It was so difficult painting here in that I found myself breathless on occasion with the thought I was the ONLY artist here in Monet's garden. I painted for two and a half hours the first time and never saw another soul, not even the gardeners.

Here is the Monet’s Japanese bridge without any peeps if you can believe that. Gorgeous! What a decision Monet must've had to come out here and decide from which angle he'd paint the bridge on particular that day. Nice problem to have.

My painting in progress and the scene I am painting. So far I am averaging 3 paintings a day ... what? I didn't know I had that in me. I easily could've done five or six if I didn't have needs. Needs like FOOD, WINE, REST, RELAXATION but I do, so only 3 a day.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of my Monet series. Thanks for reading.