This page not only hosts some amazing art gallery and museum sites, but will explore art with lessons and activities. BML is very excited to share these beautiful arts sites with our patrons. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
From a Smithsonian show on first ladies to Mexican muralists, Rembrandt and the making of the Met, these were some of Smithsonian’s favorite virtual experiences.
The Navy Art Collection collects, documents, preserves and exhibits art that is significant to the history of the Navy for both the public and service personnel. This includes over 20,000 paintings, prints, drawings, and engravings consisting of naval ships, personnel, and actions from all eras of U.S. naval history. Highlights include the Combat Art Program, which feature events, posters, and artwork from World War I , World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield/Stormand Women in Uniform.
Home to the world’s 2nd largest private collection of art, the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza owns masterpieces by giants of virtually every art movement—to name just a few, Jan van Eyck, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Picasso and Dalí. To spotlight these artistic treasures, the Madrid museum offers an array of multimedia resources. Users can take a virtual tour of the entire building (or a thematic tour covering such topics as food, sustainability, fashion and even “inclusive love”); browse current and closed exhibits; and watch behind-the-scenes videos featuring interviews, lectures and technical studies.
From Tokyo to Istanbul, the Freer and Sackler bring you Asian art and culture at home. Whether you are looking for teaching resources, podcasts of live performances, or simply beautiful art to enjoy, this site is a digital hub that will transport you through many rich holdings. During this time, we invite you toexperience Asian art at home.
How Portraits of US Presidents and First Ladies Are Chosen
Selecting a portrait or an artist for the White House has evolved over the years. During the 19th century, presidential portraits were accepted for the Executive Mansion by the congressional committees on the library. It was an informal process. The only requirement appeared to be that the portrait looked like the president. By the end of the 19th century, outgoing presidents had funds available for their portraits by artists of their choosing. If a president died before an official portrait was painted, the family chose a likeness for the collection. Likenesses of the first ladies were not pursued. When made available, they were accepted as gifts. Since 1967, the White House Historical Association has taken an active role in acquiring portraits of recent presidents and first ladies. The artists are selected and completed portraits approved by the subjects. With the formation of the White House Fine Arts and the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, established by Executive Order in 1964—it has been a goal to acquire portraits of presidents and first ladies painted from life.
Art Classes & Activities
WHAT IS ART? Short Course from Lumen Learning
Art is a highly diverse range of human activities engaged in creating visual, auditory, or performed artifacts—artworks—that express the author’s imaginative or technical skill, and are intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.
The NGAkids Art Zone app contains 8 interactive activities inspired by works in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, plus a sketchbook for freehand drawing and a personal exhibition space where users can save and display art created with the program. The child-friendly interface, easy-to-use tools, and the overarching emphasis on discovery, careful looking, and artistic self-expression make the NGAkids app educational and fun for the whole family.
An exhibition of works featuring the instructors of the Yale Peabody Museum Natural Science Illustration Program on display at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
Artists that specialize in the natural sciences illustrate our world, inviting us to see it with new eyes. In this exhibition, the instructors of the Yale Peabody Natural Science Illustration Program capture subjects ranging from the feathered dinosaur Anchiornis to the devastating environmental effects of trash.
The U.S. Botanic Garden offers a collection of new coloring pages. Artist Becky Paxton created unique coloring pages to celebrate US botanic gardens. Her latest is a of the USBG featuring the Fountain of Light and Water amongst the gardens, with the Conservatory in the background. Try your hand at this beautiful illustration, and share your coloring creations by tagging #USBGart !
Inspired by the plant collections of the USBG, this coloring book is perfect for kids to explore plants at the Garden! It’s also a great way for teens and adults to color their favorite garden settings. The PDF can be downloaded for printing or opened in your favorite coloring app for digital coloring. All the artwork was created by the USBG and is free to download and use.
National Gallery of Art
The Navy Art Collection collects, documents, preserves and exhibits art that is significant to the history of the Navy for both the public and service personnel. This includes over 20,000 paintings, prints, drawings, and engravings consisting of naval ships, personnel, and actions from all eras of U.S. naval history. Highlights include the Combat Art Program, which feature events, posters, and artwork from World War I , World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield/Storm and Women in Uniform.
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hsonian: National Museum of Asian Art
How Portraits of US Presidents and First Ladies Are Chosen
NGAkids Art Zone for iPad
Seeing Nature Through Art
Edx.org continually offers Nature Illustration classes for free or with a certificate
