Picture Study with Photography

 “We cannot measure the influence that one artist or another has on the child’s sense of beauty, upon his power of seeing, as in a picture, the common sight of life..."

---Charlotte Mason

These are picture studies of Mary Cassatt and Norman Rockwell from 2007 and 2010 respectively.   Of all the picture studies we have done, photography has been the most fun.  It seems to cement the image in our minds.  Both Jessica and Abigail came up with their own props and had very little advice from me other than positioning.   We all really had to study the paintings.  And then I had to get out of the way and just start taking pictures. :)

 2007

Mary Cassatt  (1882)  Susan on a Balcony Holding a Dog                  


                                                                                                 

                   Mary Cassatt (1878)  Little Girl in a Blue Armchair

                                Mary Cassatt (1902) Young Mother Sewing

Mary Cassatt (1886) Girl Arranging Her Hair

Mary Cassatt (1902) Margot in Blue






Mary Cassatt (1880) Woman Reading in a Garden

 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for men." Colossians 3:23

 2010

 Norman Rockwell (1954)  Girl in the Mirror

Norman Rockwell (1947)  The Babysitter



Norman Rockwell (1953)  Girl with Black Eye

Norman Rockwell Losing The Game

Not all art is conducive to this kind of picture study but look for the opportunity.  My girls will never forget doing these.

"If mothers could learn to do for themselves what they do for their children when these are overdone, we should have happier households. Let the mother go out to play! If she would have the courage to let everything go when life becomes too tense, and just take a day, or half a day, out in the fields, or with a favourite book, or in a picture gallery looking long and well at just two or three pictures, or in bed, without the children, life would go on far more happily for both children and parents. The mother would then be able to hold herself in "wise passiveness’ and would not fret her children by continual interference even of hand or eye - she would let them be."

---Charlotte Mason

Oh!  If she were only talking about me!.....