When I was 17, I took my first Art History class at Gables High. Ms. Jean Greenaway was our teacher and with one flick of the light switch and the hum of the slide projector history began to be written.

It was the first time ever, I got it. The first time I took a class, barely had to study and the A’s came one after the other. For some it was math, languages, science…for me it was art.

Scoring a 5 on the AP Art History test, I walked into SMU and my very first class was a 500 level Art History class with Professor Christpher Fulton (*swoon)…that one class paired with Ms. Greenaway’s class quickly lead me to a major and in 2000 a degree and a career in museums.

As I’m painting, I thought I might share some of my favorite pieces with you. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen nearly all of these live & in living color at some point in my life (everything except for the Arlofini Wedding Portrait which is at the National Gallery in London).

My ultimate favorite is, Le Bassin Aux Nympheas by Monet. I first saw it in Paris—and I most recently saw it at the Met in New York. It may seem cliche to adore this piece as much as I do…but it reminds me of my grandmother.

At the end of the day…art speaks to each of us in a different way. It is a visual and emotional language that we can all understand. You don’t have to hold a degree in Art History to appreciate that.