I’ve been drawn to Impressionism since my mom read me children’s picture books about Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) and other Impressionists when I was little. Her, John Henry Twachtman (1853-1902), and Frederick Childe Hassam (1859-1935) were the most significant early American Impressionists. They made Impressionism famous in the U.S. Hassam had two main focuses in his career: scenes of cities and the countryside, with gardens and coast. I love his flowers and shorelines perhaps most of all the impressionists because they have a way of balancing realism and Impressionism that is very satisfying. I think he uses his color and line in a way that gives a little more definition and beauty…