American Gothic by Grant Wood, 1930
April 16, 2016 I visited the American Gothic House Center in Eldon, IA. I was fortunate enough to view the exterior of the house that inspired Grant Wood to paint American Gothic, one of the most recognized paintings in the world! While there, I was able to tour the adjacent American Gothic House Center which showcases Grant Wood's life and the history of the house. What a wonderful place, only two hours from my home.
Since visiting Eldon two weeks ago, I have been inspired to paint that historical window myself. I have taught art everyday for 20 years, but I am very rusty with my own personal skill. This is literally the first non school related picture I have painted in over 10 years. I found it to be a real challenge, making me admire Grant Wood all the more. After thinking about it, I decided to paint a sunset, full moon view of the house. I love color, and I felt like I needed to incorporate color into my painting. I also wanted the window to be the main focal point of my composition with the full moon as an accent.
Overall, that Saturday afternoon day trip was very inspirational for me. From the moment I pulled in and actually saw the house, my eyes teared up. It was extremely powerful for me to stand in the same place that Grant Wood stood when he sketched that very house in 1930. I am thankful for the experience.
My sketch...
My painting...
