Art Inspired by Maud Lewis

An original work by Elisabeth Rose

For Art Appreciation this week, the kids read "Capturing Joy: The Story of Maud Lewis." Maud Lewis lead a very simple life in small Nova Scotia hamlet and suffered from debilitating arthritis. Her works are beautiful in their simplicity and bold in their use of color. My 12 year old son made the observation that so many artists seem to more clearly see beauty and recreate it in their art as a result of suffering in their life. I found this to be a profound statement coming from one so young.

My daughter, the aspiring artist in the family, was tasked with creating something of her own (shown above) inspired by the works of Maud Lewis. I am fairly flabbergasted by the result! I'm hoping she lets me hang this one somewhere special. 

"Maudie" is a very good movie about the life of Maud Lewis starring Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke. 

Related Links:

• Art Appreciation: Frida and Friends at the Frist (shannafern.com)
• Van Gogh Inspired Art (shannafern.com)
• An Artist in the Making (shannafern.com)
• Painting "The Setting Sun" (shannafern.com)

Art Appreciation: Frida and Friends at the Frist

A self-portrait by Frida Kahlo (@Frist Museum Aug 2019)

While on an impromptu stay in Nashville, we visited the Frist Art Museum where an art exhibition representing Mexican Modernism was on display. The works of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were prominent pieces of this exhibition and through the interpretive displays we learned much about their lives and the context of their work. 

Clothes representing the dress and style of Frida Kahlo (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

A mural by Diego Rivera (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

Another exhibit "Monsters & Myths: Surrealism and War in the 1930s and 1940s," included some rather morbid themes. There were a couple of iconic pieces by Salvador Dali- "Apparition of Face and Fruit Dish on a Beach" being one of the most recognizable. 

Apparition of Face and Fruit Dish on a Beach by Dali (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

When asked to point out her favorite work in this exhibit, my aspiring 11-year old artist to selected a piece by Wolfgang Paalen shown below.

"Paysage totémique de mon enfance" by Wolfgang Paalen (In English: Totemic landscape of my childhood) (@Frist Art Museum Aug 2019)

We have had other opportunities to learn about works of art over the years mostly from a historical context. My almost 13 year old son indicated that he is not a fan of surreal and modern art styles and prefers more realistic works like those we have learned about in our European history. My daughter, on the other hand, said that she likes different things about all art genres - spoken like a true artist I suppose.

Related Links: 

• Art Inspired by Maud Lewis (shannafern.com)
• Van Gogh Inspired Art (shannafern.com)