Someone told me recently that there are so many water lily paintings by Monet because he hated them all - so he would do many with the exact same angle and everything, and in fact he asked for most of them to be destroyed after his death.
Obviously no one followed through this wish of his.... It happens with lots of writers, too; after their death, someone will find something in a desk drawer... and some things should be left in desk drawers.
The water lily paintings, though, perhaps I don't have a good eye but I think they are all pretty good. :) I miss being able to walk to a museum - that's something that used to cheer me up, too. Can be very quiet in a museum but many places you could tuck away and sit, also. Since I lived nearby so many great places over the years, I didn't feel the need to "do" the thing in its entirety all in one go - I was lucky I had that luxury as long as I did. I used to bring a notebook with me to write down stray thoughts and phrases (I can't draw to save my life). Or I'd even bring a book to read, at times. Something about that type of environment, I guess I grew up with, some kind of indefinable solace. Especially when I went alone and could skip the ever-popular "Arms and Armor" exhibits. :P
