Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Fast and loose

impressionist rural landscape in acrylic paint
The term 'fast and loose' usually conjures up visions of sloppiness. Not so in impressionist painting where the emphasis on speed was often driven by the artist's desire to capture the moment. The rapid pace and minimal reworking of the paint gave rise to a style that suggests energy and movement that is hard to dissociate from the impressionist style.

Summer Scene was done in just about half an hour against a roughly sketched in composition. The only brushstrokes used in this piece are ones that either put the paint down on the paper or those that instantly led to an impression of movement. I made no attempt to smooth the paint or even out the color. Personally I think the sky is the most interesting aspect of this picture!

Summer Scene, Acrylic on 140lb watercolor paper, 9"X12", $70 (unframed)

1 comment:

  1. I just visited the Kimball Art Museums' current exhibit on the Impressionists. You are right about the impressionists quickly laying down the sketches and capturing the colors or their impressions.
    Thank you for visiting my site! I like your words "accidental artist" for I am too.
    Stay in touch.
    Judy

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