Saturday, October 16, 2010

Fall Light

 






 
Acrylic on recycled cotton/poly twill
4" x 6"

I've been watching David Hockney on YouTube videos and also, here.  I am so inspired by his studious, disciplined and eager approach to his work.  At 70, he was painting en plein air in the English countryside on a daily basis; often at 5:00 a.m. and through all kinds of weather in every season. (If you click on the first link, be sure to click on "Larger View" beneath the painting so that you can see the same scene in all four seasons.) He wanted to find out what it was like to be painting in the midst of the landscape rather than painting from a photograph of a scene that he had found by looking through the aperture of a camera.  More specfically, he wanted to know how the "seeing" of the scene would differ.  During one year, he literally painted 350 paintings while out of doors!  And talk about sketchbooks -- he definitely fills them.  But he has the confidence to "sketch" directly on their pages with paintbrushes rather than pencils; a practice he also employs on his canvases. 

 Watching these videos was the perfect transition from a busy work week to a weekend that absolutely MUST include putting some paint on canvas! 

Have a great weekend!!

:)

7 comments:

Unknown said...

lovely painting...

annamaria potamiti said...

Thanks for the links- I have a total art-crush on David Hockney- a very long term one!!!!XX

Gloria Freshley Art and Design said...

Hi Linda, Thanks so much for your kind remark! Best...Gloria

Gloria Freshley Art and Design said...

Hi Annamaria, Yes, his work is wonderful. And he is delightful. I loved hearing his observations about light, dimensionality, the process of working, and life, in general. Thanks for visiting...

em said...

these photos speak to me! i love the fall light and the colors they give things. the leaf photo is juxtaposed with your art on the right - very nice! i saw the hockney paintings, so impressive! i hope i retain my creative spark as i get older...

lotta said...

wonderful and inspirational. love the fall garden photos and your painting too..

Gloria Freshley Art and Design said...

Em and Lotta,

Thanks for visiting!! I've never seen and Hockney paintings but I just finished watching the video AGAIN! :)