I love July: the gardens, the weather, the plein air painting, and it doesn't hurt that it's also my birth month. While life isn't quite the same this year, July (being halfway through the year), is always a great time reflect, and take inventory on what inspires each of us.
In honor of my favorite month, I'm sharing two of my favorite paintings from 2020. These paintings highly inspired my creative process this year, and here's why:
Title: "Moonshadow" 24x36" Acrylic on Canvas
Why I love this painting: I took a big leap of faith with this painting. I painted over a different version of "Moonshadow" that I actually really, really liked. But a tiny part of me felt it could be better in this new pointillist style that had taken over. Taking risks is a big part of the artist journey, and I'm so happy I did.
"Moonshadow" is a painting of pure tranquility. Not only is the palette of calming colors, but the rhythm of the brushstrokes echo this fleeting, sparkling sensation; perhaps a sensation of the staccato of raindrops, or a shimmering ambience of William Basinski's Watermusic. I enjoyed working with a range of contrast of values, while keeping a more subdued contrast in color.
Gold and Silver paint is applied in the mountains and rocks, giving it a shimmering effect from different angles. "Moonshadow" portrays a lake scene at night, in its peaceful, quiet calm. More info on "Moonshadow" here.
Title: “Radiant Light" Acrylic on Canvas 16x16"
Why I love this painting: "Radiant Light" was a breakthrough painting. It was the first pointillist landscape painting of the series, and it embodies a more gestural form of impressionism. Light is emitted in a radial motion from the sun, dancing atop the sagebrush and the rolling hills in the distance. Gold paint is also used to further provide luminosity to and from this painting. I enjoyed using light as movement.
I'm honored to announce, that earlier this year, Saatchi Art featured "Radiant Light" in a collection inspired by Yayoi Kusama. Saatchi Art is the world's largest online platform for art, and is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
More info on "Radiant Light" here.
Latest Inspiration: Gold
Lately I've been incorporating gold leaf into watercolor paintings, and the result is very pleasing.
Gold offers magnificent light that reflects into the art and from the art. This painting shown here is a detail of a river painting, and I find gold best captures the light of moving water over sand and rocks. More to come in this series.
Blossoms & Branches… more soon
Stay Healthy & Inspired.
Wishing you the best,
Kristen