Fresh Paint

[Surface of Turtle Pond, at Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary; 3:15pm, 5/24/08]

Many years ago, I went to the Newbury St gallery the Copley Society's annual "Fresh Paint" exhibit on the day of their auction (see this year's paintings). The invited painters spend a day somewhere in the city painting some quintessential Boston scene, and then turn in their work at the end of the day to be exhibited and eventually auctioned. There's something exciting about seeing work that was painted so quickly, its last dabs of paint added moments before being handed off for viewing.

[Surface of Turtle Pond, at Habitat]

"The seductive charm of speed" -- that's how the curators of the 2001 "Painting Quickly in France: 1860-1890" exhibit I saw at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown described its survey of Impressionist art. I'd turned up my nose at Impressionist work as pretty but boring, but this exhibit stunned me because it really captured the vitality of freshly painted work that clearly must have shocked the established art world at the time. The artists were masters of their craft and so even their "oil sketches" were finely painted, but the curators pointed out that what looks dashed off on the spot was usually taken back into the studio and refined before being finished. The Copley painters, who may or may not be quite so masterful, do not have the benefit of being able to return to their studios for touchups, but you can be sure they carefully plan out their strategies in advance, just as improv comedians work up a large bag of tricks they can apply to any situation that comes up.

At Easter time, when I went with my father to the botanical garden in Ann Arbor, there were young students sketching as I went around snapping photos in the conservatory. I said something to him about the concentration it takes to sit and draw every leaf, every stem. He cracked, And you just point and shoot! (Yes, my wiseacre tendencies are at least partly inherited.) There's speed, and then there's cheating! It's the difference between running a marathon and driving the route in a car. Not nearly the same achievement.

The weekend has begun. Celtics' game on the tube tonight, a movie tomorrow evening, and some art in the city on Sunday. I look forward to rain showers tomorrow -- rain=no pollen! Will report back. Have a good weekend, everyone.

Comments

[mm]

Leslee, the photographs are gorgeous. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Have a good weekend.

[Leslee]

Thanks, MM. :-)

[Lorianne]

It seems to me that "point & shoot" digital photography & drawing/painting are two entirely different arts, like comparing apples & oranges: both fruit, but different. When I draw something, the time & concentration aspect reveals something different from when I just "snap" it. But the ability to "just snap something" allows those of us who aren't as artful with our hands to still exercise our eyes. And I think there's something, too, in the micro-moment immediacy of a snapshot image that captures a distinctly different kind of reality than the sustained attention of a drawing or painting: not better or worse, just different.

[Michael]

I like your "impressionist" photographs.

[Leslee]

Lorianne: Yes. Different medium, and of course even snapshots can be artfully done.

Michael: Thanks! That's what they reminded me of.

[mb]

Leslee, I find that first photo particularly mesmerizing. Wow.