It is so thrilling to study a piece of art, even to have done a “look-a-like” of it as a project, and then to stand before the original work in a museum or gallery. The learning is monumental. Field trips can also be taken to working artists’ studios where students can watch and ask questions. And, field trips can be taken to places conducive to indoor or outdoor still life painting, such as the one we took to Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens.

STAN HYWET EN PLEIN AIR PAINTING FIELD TRIP

What a beautiful day we (three families, students and their moms) had for visiting Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens! We first took a guided tour of the 65 room Tudor-style Manor House, which was built between 1912 and 1915 by the Seiberling family, Franklin A. Seiberling being a twentieth century industrialist who co-founded both Goodyear Tire and Rubber and Seiberling Rubber companies. Following that, we ate our lunches on the West Terrace overlooking the Water Lily Pond. After lunching and chatting, everyone chose a subject/composition for their painting and we spent time creating an oil painting en plein air, in the open air, like the Impressionists. Before leaving for home, we shared our experiences together— why we chose what we painted, how we felt about it and so forth.

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