
Yesterday as part of the “Art Quiz” feature on Impressionism, I shared a quote from Camille Pissarro in which he advised working on everything all at once. The exact quote is:
“Work at the same time upon water, sky, branches, ground, keeping everything going on an equal basis and unceasingly rework until you have got it. Paint generously and unhesitatingly, for it is best not to lose the first impression.“
As I settled back into the studio following our trip from Tennessee, I drew inspiration from Impressionism as well as from the beautiful scenes of fall foliage we’d seen while traveling, and I attempted in some way to follow Pissarro’s advice.
I did follow that advice as far as “keeping everything going”, but not so much on the counsel to “unceasingly rework”. With that said, I’m not certain if this painting is finished or not. I thought I might set it aside and then go back to it, yet I’m finding myself drawn to the scene as it is. It’s not exactly what I set out to create — although it is close to my vision — yet I like the hazy “impressionist” quality. I see in this painting the sort of “vagueness” I so often feel as I play piano works by Impressionist composers. For me it’s a sense of wandering about, not knowing for sure where I’m going, and loving that quiet uncertainty. Within it are possibilities, mysteries, secrets, adventures. I look at this road and wonder where it might lead.

In some ways, I made this painting exercise as difficult as possible. This is not done on a canvas panel or even a stretched canvas. It was painted on a 12″ x 16″ canvas sheet. When painting on canvas pads, I find it extremely hard to cover the surface. If you enlarge this and look closely, you’ll see the canvas texture showing through in many places.
I approached this simply as another oil painting study, an exercise in seeing lights and shadows. The idea here was to suggest moving from darkness into light. In the end, though, it seemed that perhaps the foreground was a bit too dark. What are your thoughts on this?
This study was fun to paint. I loved playing with the color palette I used, and as with so much of my recent art study, I enjoyed the sense of freedom I felt as I painted this scene. This shows me that I am going in the direction I want to go. In many ways this painting is in itself symbolic of how I see myself as an artist. The vision of my future is a bit hazy, but I sense something bright and beautiful ahead, something I can’t yet see clearly, but something calling me onward, waiting to be discovered.
Leave it! It’s so lovely and gives exactly the ‘impression’ that you say you want to convey! Walk away–it’s done!
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I came to the same conclusion. I liked it just as it was precisely because it does represent who I am and where I am as an artist. 🙂 I’m glad you like it, too.
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Beautiful artistry and post, Judith. I have the impression from it that you have the same artistic spirit as Pissarro although a different expression. Like you, the dreamy vagueness of impressionism delights me… ‘the quiet uncertainty… possibilities… mysteries…’. This is poetry to me. Yes, I think it’s a perfect impression as is…do not try to ‘perfect’ it with your mind like overthinking a beautiful dream. I aspire to your wonderful talent as I do with so many artists we can now discover thanks to technology and play with art in my own humble ways. I’m sure you have and will continue to inspire many. Thanks for sharing. Best wishes, Shelley
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I enjoyed painting this study and found that it was a good reflection of who I am as an artist and where I’m going. But then I tried following Pissarro’s advice again this morning… with very different results. It was a great opportunity to learn who I am NOT… and tomorrow’s post shares the experience. Every day I learn more about being who I am, and that’s an interesting process.
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Yes, the Artist’s Journey is a continuous exploration and sharing with others all the ‘am’ and ‘am’ nots we create and choose in this realm of duality. We ‘mark’ our Journey. Many thanks for sharing.
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So glad you visited and shared your thoughts! 🙂
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This painting is very effective. I think the dark foreground works to draw the eye through the painting to the light source in the background.
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Thank you. I had mixed feelings about the dark foreground, but symbolically it works, I think. 🙂
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Agree – perfect as is! 🙂
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🙂
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This is really beautiful! I hope you enter this one in shows!
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I might do that!
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Impressionism without the human element to me best describes this painting. I’d like to learn more of this technique for sure.
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It’s essentially working “alla prima” with oils, completing a landscape in a single session. I’m not good with this method. This quick “study” was an exception. I actually liked it when I was done.
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You inspired me to write a blog on Impressionism. I hope you check it out.
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I will definitely do that!
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Thank you.
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This is a really good painting! I love the colours, the style and the feel of it, it’s very atmospheric. Great work!
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Thanks! I don’t usually work “alla prima” so this was a pleasant surprise for me. It was a bit of a fluke though. I tried another “alla prima” study on Tuesday — the subject of today’s post. It didn’t turn out quite so good, but it taught me a good lesson. The post will be publishing in about an hour if you’d like to check back and see how that “quick study” went. 🙂
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How amazingly you have gotten all the colours to retain their identity and yet complement each other! Awesome artwork!
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Thank you so much. 🙂
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Excellent!😍
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Thanks 🙂
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