Erik Brooks's Blog, page 55

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 126 - 4.13.16

From Thomas Hart Benton's Achelous & Hercules (1947) at the National Portrait Museum. Technically speaking, the bull here represents Achelous, the River God, being tamed by the Herculean people of the midwest (and the Army Corps of Engineers) -- so I probably should have painted my polar bears over the bull -- fighting for all he's worth. Still, one of my favorite paintings from the visit even if the parable doesn't quite fit... Check out the link above. It's a HUGE painting and this is just one small part of it. Terrific colors and forms!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 125 - 4.11.16

Still getting caught up after last week's spring break. It was a really nice family trip, and I do know that the Washington, D.C. - themed post cards will continue :) Stay tuned!

Harts Pass No. 294

Spring finally sprung while we were away last week on break. Appropriately a little cooler and damp to end the week, but multiple days of 70 degrees and sunshine melts a lot of snow and gets the new leaves cranking along :) And yes, the bears should be getting up again too!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 124 - 4.9.16

Another minor "spring break delay" to my posting of this card, but I successfully completed another Washington, D.C. themed bear for the President on our flight home. This one is in honor of Mahler's 1st Symphony -- which we were pleased to hear at the Kennedy Center on Thursday night. The pattern in the background comes from the ceiling tiles -- which we were VERY close to in our tippy top row balcony seats :) The music was terrific and there were no less than eight basses -- just so you know!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 123 - 4.6.16

Bears gettin' familiar with the D.C. Metro -- and LOTS of great walkin' around!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 122 - 4.5.16

SO much to take in during our trip to the Holocaust Museum, but the images of children and the continued resolve of the Jewish people take center stage in this 3rd edition of the Polar Bear Post Card Project. With much thanks to Victoria Barnett for her patient expertise taking us around the museum, and to my father-in-law, John Roth, for all of his work in the area of Holocaust studies as well.

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 121 - 4.4.16

"The mere knowledge that such a work could be created makes me twice the person that I was."- Goethe, 1787
From the Wonder exhibit at the Renwick Gallery. Amazing art by Janet Echelman and many others!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 120 - 4.3.16

A spring break trip from Washington State to Washington, D.C. -- and the polar bears will be hanging out in the zip code of the President for a few days!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 119 - 4.2.16

A Polar Bear Post Card Happy Birthday to my bother Colby. Sorry, the actual card is in the mail to President Obama, but so it goes :) Have a good one Colb!

Presidential Polar Bear Post Card Project No. 118 - 4.1.16

April Fools humor - Polar Bear Post Card style!