For many years I have been a fan of Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings and fascinated by her interesting life.  Most of the photos I remember seeing of her were in her later years with gray hair swept up in a bun; a tiny figure on a sun drenched hill, is what comes to my mind.

But did you know Georgia had a sister that was also an artist? Well, actually she had two, but Ida is the sister that stuck with it even after Georgia asked both sisters to stop showing their works.

Ida, who was younger than Georgia, spent her life teaching painting, nursing, or occasionally writing.  She often moved for employment, never married, and had no children.  Due to her moves and work, she never had the time to devote to her artwork.  But she was a good artist nonetheless.

The Dallas Museum of Art just had an exhibit of Ida O’Keeffe’s works.  I must admit some paintings were reminiscent of Georgia’s work, but that is probably due to both painting in the same era and having some of the same teachers.  The exhibit was very interesting, especially the room filled with lighthouses, each a rendition of the Highland Lighthouse on Cape Cod.  Each lighthouse was a little different than the last, by adding a color or changing the way it appeared.  All were amazing.  It was interesting to see how Ida could change her perspective on a single subject.

The Dallas Museum of Art is just opening an exhibit on Berthe Morisot who was the first female Impressionist.  It too was fascinating and moving.  Well worth a trip to Dallas to enjoy it as well as the permanent displays.