Regrets... I guess

I am quite picky about paintings. I have learned that if I see one I REALLY like, I should purchase it because currently, I am short two paintings that I think about almost daily. I have never been much of a supporter for material possessions but art is different. Yes, my life has continued perfectly fine without the painting by Larry Gray (in my previous post) and the one I am about to speak of, but I have a great appreciation for art* and seeing such beautiful works are really inspiring. As my blog title says, "The World: As Seen Through My Eyes," I love seeing how others interpret the world.

Anyways, in 2005, I travelled to Russia. While in St. Petersburg, I saw the most gorgeous painting ever. I am sure you are all familiar with this image from the cover of National Geographic: 

National Geographic

Well, the painting I saw in Russia was similar, very similar. It was of a girl wrapped in a scarf painted in brilliant reds. Her eyes were a bright azure blue and wisps of her dark brown hair were blowing in the wind. I wanted it so badly. I bartered with the seller to drop the price down from the steep $140 dollars he was trying to charge for a painting that was not much bigger (if any) than an 8 x 10 sheet of paper. He wouldn't budge. In fact, all of my friends tried for me. I found this painting at the very beginning of my trip, so I figured I would find something better and turned my back on that painting. If you can't tell by this post, I didn't find anything better. I guess, for lack of better word, I regret not purchasing it but no one should live life with regrets... it's more like a lesson learned.

Although, I didn't leave Russia with the painting I really wanted, I left with some pretty splendid photographs, memories, and a pretty decent replacement painting:

*When I say "great appreciation for art" I mean "good" art. I understand that is relative and despite the fact that most of my art is very abstract, I mainly only enjoy art by others, that falls into the realism genres (most likely because it is something I am not the greatest at). And then there is the contemporary, I have no idea what this drawing is supposed to be like Picasso's art; it makes my eyes bleed. Eww