Engaging Art History Presentations
Early American Art I: Colonial Painting offers a close look at the simple, straight-forward painting style of America’s earliest artists. These works by self-taught artists tell compelling stories of a transitional time in America’s history. (Program stands alone or as part of 4-part Early American Painting Series.)
Early American Art II: Revolutionary Images: From Revere's ride to the surrender at York Town, a brief, yet informative journey into the Revolutionary War with diverse images portraying emotions and events of America's beginning. (Program stands alone or as part of 4-part Early American Painting Series.)
The Visionary Van Gogh offers an in-depth look at the famously troubled, yet brilliant artist and his innovative paintings. Take a close look at the deliberate and unique choices he made, and come away with a renewed understanding of his impact on the world of art.
Winslow Homer's America showcases the artist who helped to shape America's artistic identity during the 19th Century. Homer began with Civil War images, and moved on to uplifting messages during post-war reconstruction; his work still inspires people today. See how he mastered oil painting then took watercolor painting to amazing heights.
Creative Thinking Through Art Observation
Early American Art III: Everyday Life: From farm country dances to labor movements, learn to interpret genre paintings - scenes of everyday life. These are charming and often compelling visual stories of America’s growth and change during the 19th Century. (Program stands alone or as part of 4-part Early American Painting Series.)
Early American Art IV: The Western Frontier: From the Louisiana Purchase to the Transcontinental Railroad, Americans were lured west in creative ways. Paintings from America's westward expansion describe varied and often daring experiences of people during that time. (Program stands alone or as part of 4-part Early American Painting Series.)
Massachusetts' Art Revealed: From the Pilgrims to modern skylines, Massachusetts' people, events, architecture, industries and land forms are represented by artists in surprising ways. Experience some well-known history as well as some lesser-known events and places through the eyes of the artist - all part of the commonwealth's interesting story.
American Women Artists highlights a selection of women from the 18th through 21st Centuries, who have created stirring and powerful artwork, helping to shape the identity of American art. We’ll take a close look at pastels, paintings, sculptures, quilts, and more.
African American Artists We Should Know sheds light on the creations and careers of prominent 19th- and 20th-Century African American artists such as Augusta Savage, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Jacob Lawrence, and others. Learn about the obstacles these artists overcame, and the interesting and creative ways each made an impact on the history of art.
Picasso and Cubism explores the thinking and theories behind this world-famous artist and the Cubism art style he helped to create, with an effort towards making sense of his utterly unique approach to the language of art.
Three Wyeths looks at three generations of this famous family's artists; N.C.’s published oil paintings of American leaders and heroes, Andrew’s unique landscapes and still life paintings, and Jamie’s imaginative images – all come together to reveal an interesting progression of American creativity.
John Singer Sargent – An American Legacy is a sampling of Sargent’s work, offering insight into his ever-evolving techniques and subjects. From elegant society images to informal watercolors, Sargent's extraordinary talent brought him both commercial success and art critics’ disapproval.
Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Favorite Painter of Marie Antoinette (Coming in 2025!) explores the amazing talent of one of the 17th-Century’s most successful artists. Vigee Le Brun had an impressive and surprising rise to fame—despite being a woman in a man’s field—and while fighting for survival in the midst of France’s Violent Revolution.
Ansel Adams' Artistry is an opportunity to admire and interpret the intriguing photographs of Ansel Adams - offering a renewed respect for his unique and visionary advancement of photography as an art form.
Edward Hopper's New England offers a close look at the unique style of one of America’s prominent 20th-Century artists. From solitary urban scenes to simplified representations of New England’s coastal regions – Hopper’s images continue to captivate viewers.
J.M.W. Turner, the Pride of Great Britain features Great Britain’s controversial and beloved 19th-Century artist, whose bright colors and unusual brushwork were a mystery to many of those around him, and yet a powerful inspiration for those who followed.
Other Countries & Ancient Cultures:
The Art of Ancient Greece is a brief, yet through overview of the amazing innovations of Greece's ancient pottery, sculpture and architecture - describing Greece's world-famous Classical time period, and setting the stage for ancient Roman creations.
The Art of Ancient China is a selection of Art from China's most ancient dynasties, with colors, forms, materials, and symbolism setting this culture's creations apart from others. With close observation, connections with eastern philosophies come through as well.
The Art of Ancient Egypt offers simplified, straightforward ways to understand Egyptian art more than the casual observer. From architecture, sculpture, and mummies to tiny treasures, enjoy the beauty and mystery this ancient culture provides.
The Art of France showcases France’s most prominent artists and art trends from the past several centuries - Baroque, Romanticism, Impressionism, and Fauvism to name a few. Come away with a renewed sense of the impact of France’s contributions to the art world.
Art Styles, Stylistic Periods & General Subjects:
Famous Impressions follows Monet, Renoir, Degas and other famous Impressionists, exploring what they believed, how they worked, and how their creations stirred the art world, inspiring so many artists and individuals who followed - especially the Post-Impressionists.
The Renaissance, Italy's Finest features accomplishments of the most well-known artists of the Italian High Renaissance. Look closely at Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, and how they redefined the language of art during one of the world's most famous art periods.
Over 40 programs to choose from! Each is briefly described here. Visit our "where" page for contact information. Help is available to select a great topic for your group.
Presentation Topics
Individual Artists:
Norman Rockwell Remembered offers an opportunity to experience many beloved images by Rockwell, to hear the stories behind his choices and inspirations, and to learn more about the way he worked. Discover how clever and surprisingly complex many of his paintings are, and come away with a renewed appreciation of Rockwell's contribution to to the history of American art.
Mary Cassatt, A New Woman offers insight into the creative mind of one of America’s most prominent artists of the 19th Century. Cassatt’s accomplishments helped forge a new open-mindedness about what art could be - and what a woman could do.
The Fascinating Georgia O'Keeffe is a collection of images spanning her long and ever-evolving career. From her early years responding to New York City’s industry and fast-paced growth, to her later years expressing New Mexico’s unique, natural beauty - experience O’Keeffe’s journey as one of America’s most innovative artists.
Families in Art features the work of a wide variety of artists across several mediums - all expressing the concept of family. From ancient Chinese scrolls to modern, abstract sculpture, see how varied and interesting this very simple topic can be.
Celebrations and Holidays in Art is a collection of lighthearted images from medieval times to present, offering a festive backdrop to a discussion about the creative and interesting choices artists make to enliven celebratory scenes.
General Subjects:
Appreciating Animals in Art is a look at the many ways animals have been represented in art - both symbolically and literally. From ancient times to modern, enjoy this exploration of animals from a variety of countries and cultures.
Children in Art offers an opportunity to interpret artists’ creative choices as they explore the concept of childhood, which has evolved in surprising ways over time.
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for.” Georgia O'Keeffe
All about America:
The Art of America's Unique Regions is a collection of images describing America’s diverse land forms, life styles, cultural influences, and historic events. Explore varied styles and ways of telling stories that define our country's unique regional identities.
Journey into Native American Art takes a close look at native-made art objects - masks, ceremonial and functional items - with a focus on the natural resources used to create them. Gain a renewed respect for the depth, richness and variety of indigenous cultures from regions all across America.
Masters of the Dutch Golden Age offers a close look at images by famous painters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as other 17th Century Dutch masters who reached levels of excellence with their painting techniques and styles that still inspire viewers today.
Social Realism in American Painting focuses on the Social Realism movement of the early 20th Century, especially those of the Ashcan School. These visual critiques of American society showcase artists who worked primarily between WWI and WWII. These artists shocked the art community by representing America’s harsh realities in powerful and thought-provoking ways.
The Abstract Expressionists - What were they thinking? offers an opportunity to explore the giant canvases, splattered paint and brilliant colors of the 20th-Century, American, abstract art movement. Learn about what led to this movement, then search for powerful emotions in the works of Krasner, Pollock, Rothko and Frankenthaler – key figures of this surprising and often confusing period of art.
Sculpture Past and Present offers an opportunity to experience the fine art medium of sculpture more fully. From ancient masterpieces to modern creations, increase your understanding of the complex choices artists make as they give physical form to the elements of design.
Landscapes Old and New explores the genre of landscape painting as it has changed over time. This selection showcases a variety of cultures and time periods, offering an opportunity to experience artists' diverse and powerful decisions - some subtle, some bold - as they portray Europe, Asia and America.
Early New England Seascapes showcases and interprets a selection of beautiful images by several prominent 19th- and 20th-Century American artists, while increasing participants understanding of all that goes into creating an effective seascape painting.
The Allure of Watercolor offers a wide range of watercolor images from accomplished artists of earlier times to well-known American artists of the 19th and 20th Centuries. See how different approaches and techniques have achieved powerful and beautiful results in this challenging medium.
Exceptional Cityscapes is a collection of images describing diverse urban areas and the unique ways artists have portrayed city life over time, focusing primarily on 17th- through 20th-Century city images from Europe and America, both representational and abstract.
Wonderful Winter Scenes (New in 2024!)is a selection of beautifully painted snowscapes created by well-known artists through time. Learn how Dutch masters, Impressionists, and modern painters have successfully captured the challenging subject of people and nature during winter time.
Contact: Jill Sanford, Owner, jill@artforyourmind.com
First-time Favorites:
American Art Explored: Experience paintings from colonial times to today as they tell America's story – including the Revolutionary War, immigration, industrialization, and more. From folk art portraits to surprising realism, then on to impressionist and abstract images, visualize America's growth and change as well as its developing artistic styles through time.
Why So Famous? Famous works of art have captivated observers through time for a wide variety of reasons. From Medieval images to abstract art, discover what's special about famous many creations by artists such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Velasquez, Picasso, Monet, O’Keeffe, Warhol and others. Through time and around the world, see how art and its meanings have evolved.