The "Becoming Van Gogh" exhibit at the Denver Art Museum is only here until January 20, and it is worth standing in line to see. I loved following how Vincent taught himself art, with do-it-yourself study-at-home manuals. With copying the masters. Finally with associating with other artists and trying things. Many self-portraits, as you don't have to pay models when you are a starving artist.
Only ten years of painting before his mental illness took his life, a discouraging life, leaving a fabulous legacy. He only sold one painting, unless you count the support his brother Theo gave him, which I suspect is what kept him going as long as he could. The two best paintings in the show, for me, were the "Basket with Six Oranges" and the last painting he made of two rather elongated figures in a woods, a little eerie, mystic. No photos allowed, of course.
The DAM also set up a painting studio, which my daughter the artist Abi and I enjoyed while we waited for our exhibit time. We painted the flowers against a black background, which came out quite differently. Abi teased me about trying to do watercolor with the acrylics. Since acrylic is her field, I can image I was entertaining! It was fun to paint together in a room with painters of all ages. Reminded me of when Abi was a four-year-old artist.In all, the outing was like a banquet, a feast, to see so many Van Gogh paintings along with paintings of others that influenced his development.