Smithsonian

Another great thing about Washington D.C. is the Smithsonian. 

With so many museums to choose from there is something for everyone. 

And since they don’t charge admission you can bop in and out when the weather turns on you.

The art museums are far less crowded than those in New York.

And on one of my visits a bored guard stopped to chat me up.

I’m pretty sure that the most popular museum is Air & Space – with good reason. 

I don’t know which is more fun the rockets or the antique planes. 

On my last trip I got to see something truly special – Degas’ original wax sculpture of “The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer.” 

There are several bronze casts floating around – including one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

That one was my inspiration for becoming an artist, so it was a real thrill to see the original.

Ciao

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Embroidery: Tropics

The background for this piece came from the US Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C.  It’s a wonderful collection. This section, the Garden Primeval, features Jurassic era landscape 150 million years old and was one of my favorites. 

They had beautiful orchids as well so here’s a pen and ink drawing of one that I used for the collage.

Ciao

PJ

 

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Washington D.C.

With the presidential election rapidly approaching its final phase it’s hard not to think of Washington D.C., another one of my favorite places to visit. 

Part of its charm is that it is easily accessible by Amtrak. 

And it doesn’t hurt that Edward has been there so often on business that he can take the lead and I can just sit back and leave the logistics to him.

But beyond that, it has so many iconic buildings and monuments to look at and photograph. 

You can spend hours on the mall alone as I did on this visit in 2009. 

And they are constantly adding new memorials so you have a reason to visit more than once. 

I was particularly taken by the Korean War Monument which I had not seen before. 

Since my dad served in the Korean War it reminded me of him. 

But my favorite photo from this bunch is the one with the ducks. 

They add a touch of whimsy to what is ultimately a sad place.

Ciao

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Columbus Arrives

In honor of Columbus Day I have posted a photo of a rarity – an original acrylic painting.  In fact, this is the first acrylic painting that I have done since I was in high school.

It all started when my nephew Jeff requested an original piece of art.  For the topic he selected a seascape.  I looked at some photos of tall ships, but didn’t find any that inspired me.  Then I saw a photo of a replica of the Santa Maria – one of Columbus’s ships, and I got the idea for this painting.

It depicts Columbus’s ships – from left to right – the Nina, the Santa Maria and the Pinta arriving on North America’s shore at sunrise.  The sunrise is based on a photo I took on one of our trips to Miami when we had a balcony with a view.  It was so spectacular that I ended up getting up every day at sunrise to enjoy it and take photos.

Oh and Jeff loved the painting.

Happy Columbus Day!

PJ
 

© 2012 PJ Lehrer