Family Picture

Fun Chicago adventures on Saturday. {one week ago today}

Art Institute in the morning. Love that place. First time I've attempted it with kids. While it was great fun, it was hard to focus on the paintings when I was shushing kids and making sure they didn't fall over the guard ropes and into the multi-million dollar paintings. Let's just say it wasn't relaxing. But that's okay. Fun none-the-less. I think we only tripped one alarm ... the guard glared from a distance and I kinda just shrugged my shoulders and did the "Oh.so.sorry.that'll.never.happen.again." plea.

Here are just a couple that I love. In attempts to hush the children I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked to, so I went to the Art Institute's website and got these pictures from there. But, the site was freezing up a bit so I gave up on trying to get a bunch.

While I do love Monet, I'm not a huge pastel coloured person - I'm a bright sort of gal. His work is amazing, no doubt, but my favorite of his is this one, which in person is more brilliant in colour.

Water Lilly Pond ~ Claude Monet

So here's my very brief overview of our quick two-hour-tour. For the most part I hate modern art. {Sorry for those of you that appreciate it. No hard feelings, 'kay?} At one point we walked by a painting that was probably 15 feet by 30 feet and I said "Maddie's 3-year-old artwork is WAY better than that splash of color." And honestly, it is WAY better.

And I hate Albright. He's a freak. Kind of got creeped out in the "Albright" section. Look up his work if you aren't familiar with him. I'm not putting him on my blog. The only saving grace was the fact that one of my favorite pictures ever, by Edward Hopper was in the middle of the Albright section.

Nighthawks ~ Edward Hopper

Love this next guy's work. Brilliant colours. Filled with movement. Makes you want to jump right into the picture and begin dancing.

Nightlife ~ Archibald John Motley

Love this next one. Always have, since the first time I went to the Art Institute, back in the late 80s. {With Alice.} It's all dots. Very cool. Maddie really liked this one.

Sunday on La Grand Jatte ~ George Seurat. {I'm so glad this fashion is out of style. I don't need any accentuation of my bottom. Thank you very much.}

And this next one is perhaps my new favorite one I've never noticed before. And Jack was taken by it, too. No idea who the artist is. I'm gonna research it though. Later.

And after the Art Institute we took our picnic lunch to the Garfield Park Conservatory in the afternoon. Always warm. Always needed.

Love this family picture.

Check out Jackson. He was sir grumpy most of the day. Not sure why.

We love our Chicago adventures.