Ashley Cecil

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8″ x 10″ oil on canvas, $220
SOLD
See all paintings available for sale.

No matter your level of involvement in the arts, if the slightest bit of interest exists, I highly recommend taking advantage of every opportunity to see artwork of “the masters.” I never truly appreciated much of what I studied in college until I was face-to-face with the originals in such museums as the Smithsonian and the Art Institute of Chicago. It’s in these places I have sat in front of the works of my idols for hours pondering sources of inspiration, philosophies, technique, and influences.

On my recent trip to Washington DC, I had the pleasure of visiting the Phillips Collection, housing artwork of artists such as Braque, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko, and personal favorites Eakins, Degas, and Renoir. Don’t get me wrong, I could sleep in art history class with the best of them (dimmed lights and monotone lectures reminiscent of Fred Savage’s science class from the “The Wonder Years” is better than Sudafed for drowsiness). However, the difference in personal engagement with the actual artwork on the canvas the artist built his/herself is an infinitely more substantial experience.

Although much smaller and more intimate than its better known counterparts, The Phillips Collection was the first museum of modern art in America. And as any reputable museum would, The Phillips Collections offers an array of educational and professional opportunities available to everyone from first-grader to scholar.

So, next time you’re strolling the sidewalks of Dupont Circle in DC, stop in to see a stunning collection of artwork you’re sure to enjoy.

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