One Scene Two Landscapes
When was the last time you studied the view out of your living room or kitchen or bedroom window? Studied this view more than once? Over several hours and seasons?
Monet is one of the more well known artists to paint in a series a single scene. His most famous series is probably the more than 30 paintings of the Façade of Rouen Cathedral. Here he was less interested in the structure of the gothic edifice than in the play and shifting of the ambient light. Visitlearn Columbia’s interactive Rouen Cathedral Series to view and study the series. Another of his series is the Haystack series, less famous (and a few years earlier) but equally beautiful.
Light and shadow create a mood as well as display information. By painting the same place in different lighting conditions the artist learns not only how to use color to render a reality but also to evoke an emotive response in the viewer. This is one reason I adore the Impressionist movement and why it has such an influence in my own work. The sky is not merely blue and certainly not all the time. By painting the same scene in a variety of ambiences, the artist is studying, investigating, pushing her own limits. My own first series contains only two member paintings. These two watercolours portray the same scene (more or less) from an apartment balcony in Milford Mill, Md. The names clue you in to the time of day and both were done in Spring on a sunny day. The first is “Bright Morning.”
With its opulent colors and delicate shadows one knows the sun is closer to its noontime position than its rising. The shadows are well formed but not overly dark. There is a lot of reflection and scattering of the light into the shaded areas.
The next painting is “Late Afternoon Watch.”
Notice the how the shadows have lengthened and deepened. The contrast is much greater between sunlit areas versus shadowed ones. The colors are even richer and deeper, almost opulent. Clearly late Spring and rather late in the afternoon as well.
Both of these paintings and others can be seen on my website’s Fine Art Gallery.
If you’re an artist, my challenge to you is to create two to four works of the same spot at different times of the day, different seasons, or when the weather suddenly changes. If you are not a visual artist, try writing about what you see and how you feel and how these feelings change. My challenge to myself is to paint more series paintings. I know I’ll get a lot of satisfaction from doing so.
References
1. “Monet’s Colors” at webexhibits.org http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/dh.html
2. “Monet | Rouen Cathedral Series” Learn Columbia http://www.learn.columbia.edu/monet/swf/
July 1st, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Patricia, the paintings are beautiful. You have so much talent! I look out on the same scene every day as I work on my computer. I will remember what you said and watch for the changes. Thanks for sharing.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Thank you Linda, it’s always a great feeling when something I write inspires or moves another person.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Your paintings are great. I used to get stopped at a redlight practically everyday on my way home from work. There is a lone perfectly shaped oak tree in the AAA parking lot that caught the light in the most amazing way at that time of day. I always wanted to take pics throughout the year so I could do a series of quilts (I don’t paint). I found a faster way to get home so I haven’t seen the tree for awhile. I’m inspired to get my camera and take the slow way home
July 1st, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Thank you Dawn. I think you should take those pictures. You never know what other inspirations may arise out of them. Plus, it’s one less thing to have regreta about and one more thing to do for yourself.
