While in Sydney I made a special trip to the Art Gallery of NSW specifically to see some of Claude Monet’s work on exhibit there (Monet and the Impressionists, $18 Admission). As a kid I grew up familiar with his work, and as Monet prints were in vogue in the 1980’s his work most influenced my traditional oil painting style of any artist.

The exhibit was great… and in a way encouraging to me as an artist, as up close & personal with the paintings Monet’s paint strokes themselves are very normal, and not unattainable!  I was also a little disappointed with the showing as some of my favourite pieces weren’t with this group (i.e. the water lily series.) But several of his paintings were amazing to see in person, including the Haystacks (1890-91) shown above, Water Lilys (1905) and Rouen Cathedral (shown below.)