Sense of Light

More Thoughts on Russian Artists

The feeling of light, space, and atmosphere in these Russian paintings of the late 19th century leave me thunder struck  with awe and inspiration.   I keep staring at them seeing more and more amazing composition, control of value, sensitivity.... all I can say is WOW!!

May this art inspire you as much as it does me.

Happy New Year 

of

Creativity

Abram Arkhipov" Down the Oka", 1889

Grigory Miasoyedov "Mowers" 1887

                                                     Ivan Shishkin "Rye" 1878  

This little 9 x 6 inch oil portrait was done for the Portrait Society of America fund raising sale in 2010.  Only those at the conference saw it.  It is one of favorite small works.  "Hope" is the second oldest daughter of a family of eleven beautiful children. To me, she has a timeless, innocent, yet energetic beauty.  The yellow and blue color scheme are reminiscent of Vermeer.

New Work

These two pastel drawing were done in a new approach for me.  I often do full color pastels but loved the charm of Susan Lyon's drawings.  After studying with her and Scott Burdick this summer, I tried this approach and loved it.  The drawing of "Kate" my grand daughter won the portrait award in the 2011 Pastel Society of the Southwest Exhibit in Richardson, Texas.  I sold the drawing of the "Sisters"

in my solo show at the New Gallery Dallas in August.

"Kate"  14 x 11 inch pastel drawing

"Sisters"  14 x 11 inch pastel

Russian Artists

Currently, I am reading the biographies of Peter and Great and Catherine the Great by Robert Massey.
These books have helped me understand more fully the work of the Russian Itinerates: The Masters of Russian Realism. Ivan Kramskoi was one of the founders of this group and the instructor of Ilya Repin:
the most famous member of the group.  The paintings below are examples of Kramskoi's work.

This group turned to a more democratic view and focused on sincerely depicting the real life around them.  Studying about them made me wonder how that could be done in our time.  What is the place for
visual art in the time of the Occupy Movement, Financial crisis, income inequity, environmental degradation? Can artists assist in elevating thought and bring more compassion and humanity to life?