Ringling Museum of Art

Well, after visiting Ca d'Zan in this post and this one, we made our way to the Ringling Museum of Art and were stunned at the size and the beauty of it!

All the photos (Daniel was the photographer extraordinaire) are only from the outside as photos inside were not permitted.

As we understand it, John Ringling lost his vast fortune during the depression. His creditors wanted him to sell his monumental European art collection to cover his debt, but he refused to do so.

He felt that his late wife, Mable, wanted him to keep the art collection intact.

At his death in 1936, he willed the collection to the State of Florida and thus insured that we can all enjoy some amazing art in Sarasota, Florida, including significant works by Rubens, Velasquez, Frans Hals and many more.

Gorgeous, isn't it?!

Wishing you a beautiful Saturday!

❧ Silke

Painting Interlude

 Dear friends, I know I said that I'd be posting about the Ringling Museum in my next post, but I needed a painting post. I've been painting up a storm - all big paintings - and I am loving it!

There's something about standing at an easel and painting with big strokes. It feels so different! The whole body is involved. This canvas is 2 x 2 feet in size, which is about 61 x 61 cm.

I used very vibrant acrylic colors (I love bright colors) and worked rather transparently.

Daniel immediately said that we are keeping this one. It'll be hanging at the top of the stairs. 

Speaking of painting, that's where I'm going now. A new canvas (2.5 x 2.5 ft) is waiting for me...

Wishing you all a beautiful Friday!

❧ Silke

Ca d'Zan (Interior)

Finally! I'm having such a problem blogging regularly and here is why. The photos are all upstairs in Daniel's office on the "big" computer. And unless I post first thing in the morning, it gets too warm up there for me.

The same is true for my studio, which is also upstairs. If I don't paint in the morning, I won't paint that day. And usually painting wins out over blogging, but today I thought I must show you the pictures of the interior of the Ca d'Zan.

When I said it was opulent in my last post I wasn't kidding!

We only toured the downstairs on our own. For the upstairs you had to book guided tours and we just didn't have that much time.

Some of the photos may be a little out of focus since Daniel wasn't allowed t

❧ Silke