Water color studies of paintings at the Louvre.
Read MoreJan 14, 2023
Water color studies of paintings at the Louvre.
Read MoreSmall sketchbook studies, in preparation for paintings, La Vallée de la Roya
Read MoreLandscape, place, painting, light, poetry, truthfulness, time
Read MoreDec 13, 2022
Focus on composition. I’m pursuing my project of depicting the natural area surrounding the village of Saorge. It is my desire that the paintings be true to life and true to my experience but in addition have a pictorial presence and compositional complexity that link them to the long tradition of landscape painting.Â
During my walks I’ve been searching for views to depict. I've been sketching when possible and taking photos during different weather and light conditions. A few of these compositions have now been blocked out on panel and canvas. The weather has been changing almost daily, from clear and sunny to rain, snow, and fog. Cloud patterns can can be very beautiful in the mountain; however, I find that the light and colors aren't as interesting on overcast days.  I still prefer to do paintings with direct or partial sun, especially at dawn and dusk, because it allows for more contrast and play between light and shadow.
Below some sketches on paper and preliminary lay-outs of a few compositions on panel and canvas.
Sketch of a tree-lined ridge with a distant mountain and a passing cloud. December 5, 2022.
Oil on paper, 20x20 cm
Sketch of trees on a meadow with mountains in the back ground. The golden light of the sun comes trough below grey clouds. Frost on grass and branches. December 6, 2022.
Oil on Paper, 20x20 cm
Work in Progress: Yellow tree on a meadow with frost and distant mountains. First initial layout, base coat. Oil painting on wood panel. December 5, 2022
25,5x25,5 cm
Work in Progress: Trees in the valley, distant mountains, and a sunset with clouds. First initial layout, base coat. Oil painting on wood panel. December 5, 2022
25,5x25,5 cm
Work in Progress: A view of La Vallée du Caîros from a terrace high above Saorge at sunset, tall pine to the left and golden terraces to the right.
Composition in place. Working on light, shadow, chroma (color intensity) and details. To be continued.
December 8-13, 2022.
Oil on canvas, 50x50 cm
Jean Siméon Chardin, still life, painting, tools of the painter
Master copy,  Evening Landscape: A Windmill by a Stream by Jacob Van Ruisdael (around 1650), Process, Materials, Reference Texts
Read MoreNov 21, 2022
Plein air, atelier painting, Saorge, Vallon, Sainte Anne
Read MoreFrame, art, history of the frame, presentation, border between reality and representation
Read MoreNov 10, 2022
Info on ancient pigments as told by William Smith in A dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 1849, pigments, painting techniques
Read MoreNov 06, 2022
France Culture : Les œuvres d’art qui ont changé le monde
Épisode 1/5 : Les raisins de Zeuxis
Au tournant du Ve et du IVe siècle avant J.-C, deux des plus grands peintres de la période classique de l’Antiquité, Zeuxis et Parrhasios, se lancèrent un défi public. La question de l’imitation, ou plus précisément de la perfection technique du trompe l’œil, était au cœur de leur dispute. Les deux maîtres confrontèrent donc leur savoir en produisant deux réalisations extraordinaires qui sont restées dans l’histoire...
Les questions sur le réalisme, le mimétisme, la part de l'art et la part de l'invention, les critères d'évaluation d'une oeuvre d'art soulevés par ce récit fondateur n'ont guère perdu de leur actualité.
Avec Fabien Vallos, théoricien, traducteur, éditeur, artiste et commissaire indépendant.
Textes lus par Nathalie Kanoui.
Chargée de recherche : Maurine Roy
Production:Â Jean de Loisy
Réalisation: Laurent Paulré
Collaboration:Â Thierry Beauchamp
Oct 31, 2022
A selection of works by Herman van Swanevelt
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