The Truth of Light and Color

Recently I traveled just four miles down the road to McNair Horse Farms  .  . . and back in time to Henry Hensche and the Cape Cod School of Art with the help of Lee Boynton. (thank you Waverly Artists Group for bringing him to Cary).

Most of my teachers paint and teach with the limited palette approach, mainly four tubes of colors.  This makes for very harmonious paintings and makes mixing colors, especially for beginners, a much easier learning experience.  It is amazing how many variations of color can be achieved with the limited palette.  But honestly, I’m not the most patient mixer.  And because a painter can never really duplicate the natural brilliance and intensity of natural light, I have been frustrated in finding ways to translate what I perceive onto the canvas with the limited palette.  So I have been yearning to find out more about the full spectrum palette and ideas of the Cape Code School of Art.  The full spectrum palette often has up to 20+ colors representing more of the color wheel.

Lee Boynton started us off “practicing the scales”, that is, painting colored blocks—to see how light changes color on planes facing different directions.  He reminded us this was essentially what Monet was doing with the haystacks—watching the effect of light and atmosphere.  It wasn’t about the haystack, it was about seeing and painting the light and atmosphere.  Upon returning home, I made my own colored blocks so I could continue to “practice the scales”.

What Lee said during the workshop was often in agreement with what my other Impressionism teachers have taught (especially “always paint the light, not the object”).  He persistently emphasized awareness of the warmth or coolness of the color in the light (also something emphasized by my other teachers). He mentioned that the Cape Cod school of thought has sometimes emphasized color over value, but he, himself, does not.  But he mentioned that nature is not homogenous.  By that I understood him to mean that representing the full spectrum of color found in nature was more important to him than strictly harmonizing the palette. (But here, this is my own conclusion, not his statement.)  He also does not harmonize the painting by toning the canvas, a common practice of many painters, believing this can muddy or deaden the sense of light of the colors.

"All Silence and Glimmer" 8 x 8 oil
Available
First painting completed following the workshop

With my color blocks, some tips and techniques to try, new colors on my palette, and new inspiration, Lee has given me fresh tools on the journey to become the painter I want to be.

Drop in Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary to see my paintings and the work of other local artists. 919-462-2035

In the Wilmington area, drop in Figments Gallery, 1319 Military Cutoff, Landfall Shopping Center  Wilmington, NC 28405 910.509.4289

www.sheffieldartstudio.com

The Path Since France

 The Trip Winds Down

Toward the end of this journey we walked past the imposing Abbaye Sainte Marie to the nearby market in Souillac, but did not visit the nearby vineyard or local distillery.  Below is the Abbey.

That evening we treated our hosts to dinner in Gourdon.  Gourdon is near the border with the Dordogne.  Historically Gourdon was an important town and had four monasteries at one time.  This evening the main street was obstructed by a raucous visiting carnival, so we experienced a whole different “vibe”!  But it was fun and we saw the local teens and families out having fun on a Friday night.

Carnival ride at Gordon

The Road

We traveled many miles around this region.  We had lots of fun and relaxation.  Like all good trips, it changed my perceptions.  When I originally signed up for this painter’s retreat trip I approached it much like other overseas workshop trips.  Though it was not teacher led with scheduled classes, I thought I would be “producing” paintings and practicing skills.  I packed and prepared to focus on watercolors, to sharpen those skills as opposed to oils.  As the trip progressed I concentrated more on quick pencil sketches, photo shoots, and gathering of information in my notebook—more on “seeing” than producing, These were a different set of skills and valuable too.  It was more relaxing and, in the end, more instructive.  I learned so much in observing another highly successful professional artist, watching how she photographed, used technology to stay in touch with her customers, blogged and painted.  In watching her, I started thinking about issues I had not given much thought to—the business side of art.  Now that I am in a gallery, I realized I needed to think seriously about presentation, a unified look in terms of framing and pricing.  I needed to think about marketing and staying connected to people who enjoy and buy my artwork.  I have already made many changes since returning home and have a long to-do list!  The learning curve in painting and the business of painting is certainly a life time journey.

Drop in Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary for these and other paintings. 919-462-2035

In the Wilmington NC area, drop in Figments Gallery,  Landfall Shopping Center, 1319 Military Cutoff Highway  28405  Tel 910.509.4289

www.sheffieldartstudio.com

A Reminder of Artists Who Came Before Us

Along the meandering Lot Valley between Figeac and Cahors is St Cirq Lapopie, a charming village.  St Cirq Lapopie is in a stunning position perched over the Lot River and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. The narrow cobbled streets contain a lovely mixture of medieval houses - some in half-timbered and some in stone - with small terraced gardens adding to the beauty of the place.

Old Garden Wall 

Below the village, next to the river, are an assortment of old mills and buildings testifying to the activity of the village in centuries gone by. We hiked to this village along a river trail. It was a beautiful trail along the river, but an arduous, steep trail up to the town!

Wild Grass Mooring

After the town was "discovered" by the Post-Impressionist Henri Martin, it became popular with other artists and the home of the writer Andre´ Breton (surrealism).  We saw many people along the streets sketching. Today St Cirq Lapopie is home to numerous artists and artisans, and here we bought a bracelet by a contemporary French jeweler. 

Later we toured prehistoric caves of Pech-Merle at Cabrerets.  I welcomed the cavern’s cool wetness and darkness after the day’s hot walk.  And the paintings were fascinating and sophisticated in line quality.  These ancient artists indicated perspective in very creative manners and allowed the viewer to understand that one animal was, indeed, located in front of or behind the other figure.

Drop in Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary for these and other paintings. 919-462-2035

www,sheffieldartstudio.com 

A Sense of Place and Interpretation

 

Pommes de Terre

Next we visited Cahors to see the famous (bridge) Pont Valentre in this vibrant old yet modern town.  We visited a market with so many enticing fresh food and colorful wares, purchased new art supplies at a side street art store, and had a relaxed little picnic in view of the Pont.

Sometimes a place reminds you of one of your artistic goals.  The combination of old and new touched a chord with me because it was compatible with my painting goal—to be able to impart a sense of reminiscence with a contemporary look.  It’s important to bring your own interpretation from the old into the present.

Drop in Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary for these and other paintings. 919-462-2035

www.sheffieldartstudio.com

Fun New Tool Along the Way

It was a beautiful day in France! We passed through the scenic village of La Roque Gageac where buildings are carved into the side of the cliffs before arriving at the Château de Beynac, a castle situated on a limestone cliff dominating the town of Beynac below and on the north bank of the Dordogne River.  The castle is one of the best-preserved and best known in the region.  Richard the Lionhearted stayed here.  Beynac castle has served as a location for several films, including Ever After, Jeanne d’Arc and others. The village also served as location for the film Chocolat.   

Richard's Chateau

After touring the chateau/castle, we spent a leisurely afternoon in a park by the river with a clear view of it and the town and sketched and picnicked on pate, fruit, cheese, bread, and, of course, wine.

I learned from a wonderful artist Dreama Tolle Perry about the handy little water pen that is used in watercolor in the field for doing quick sketches.  You fill the barrel, thereby, having your water source contained in the pen, instead of dipping in a cup.  So handy for working on the fly or in tight and knock about places!  I picked up a set of three different sizes in a little art shop in Cahors.  Isn’t it fun to find art shops in other countries!  I have since learned these little water pens hold a nice fine point for doing detail work, like a rigger.

Drop in Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary for these and other paintings. 919-462-2035

www.sheffieldartstudio.com 

Finding A Special Point of View

Upon arrival at Le Vieux Couvent you walk through a green gate into a wondrous, flower-filled and window shuttered courtyard where we’d meet each evening for wine and aperitifs.  We were all captivated by the many lovely views within this one courtyard, the pretty windows and both sides of the two gated entries.Below: "Archway to Inspiration"

Archway to Inspiration

We got off to a quick start on our travels in France with ride over on Sunday to a small local flea market in a nearby town of Concorès where modern “gypsies” living in RV’s set up stalls.  They are not unlike our flea market vendors in Raleigh. Afterwards we drove onto the picturesque town of Salviac and took art reference photos. A woman living above a coiffure shop agreed to her picture.  I found her address on Google Earth and will surprise her with a copy!   She had such a great view from her window of a small plaza across from a tavern, a few delis, and a church, she must know all that goes on in the town.  I decided to call the painting, “Community Watch”.  She certainly had a special view of her community.  As an artist I must always be on the look for that special point of view; and I hope as an artist to convey to others a unique point of view.

Community Watch

Drop in Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary for these and other paintings. 919-462-2035

Deciding On An Approach

We have been on a journey for many years, but our blog starts in France on a trip we took this year to a region called "the Lot", The Lot river valley is a land of beautiful landscapes of dramatic gorges, slow moving rivers, beautiful villages, vineyards, walnut groves, and poppy fields.  One settled into a lovely inn and artist's retreat in Frayssinet called Le Vieux Couvent.  One could paint endlessly just in this town and on the grounds of LVC, but we fanned out into the surrounding countryside.  

In advance of the trip it was difficult to decide how we would approach this painting retreat/trip:  watercolor or oil?  plein air painting or sketching? We decided that for this trip we would concentrate on watercolor sketches and photo references for future paintings in our home studio, leaving us gloriously free to sample the food and shopping delights of the region.

Come travel with us as we post our paintings for as long as it takes! This is “Coco's Favorite Table”.  Coco is a cat who would often sit on the second tier of this wrought iron table in the courtyard of LVC.  (picture of “Coco’s Favorite Table”)

Coco's Favorite Table

Drop in Cary Gallery of Artists 200 S. Academy St. in downtown Cary for these and other paintings. 919-462-2035