“Irises,” by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889
I had a love for the Irises painting by Vincent Van Gogh and had bought the poster of that painting back in college. After I graduated from college and worked in the corporate world I realized I still loved painting and took painting classes in the evening.
While still in my twenties I had an old-fashioned notion that I had to live in New York City and study art there to really pursue a career in art. So back when I was getting started with my painting career, I managed to tweak my office skills so I could get a decent part-time job to support me once I arrived in NYC.
Some days I’d pass through the Museum of Modern Art to gaze at Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” for inspiration.
“Looking at Van Gogh,” acrylic on canvas painting in progress, by Mary Gow
It was at age 26 that I read extensively about the life of Van Gogh. He decided to become a painter at the age of 26 and his life ended tragically ten years later yet he produced over 2100 artworks in his short life.
I’m working on my version of one of his paintings as a fun exercise. It’s still in progress and here’s how it’s looking. I tend to want to make it into an abstract.