Thursday, January 6, 2011

memory of snow and dusk

10x6 pastel on somerset
This is a memory of last night's sunset sky, set inside a second memory of snow. I couldn't sleep so I  slipped into the studio late last night.  Ahhhhhh. It felt so good.  I just sat down on the floor with my heilman box and dreamed this vision. 
Now more from A History of American Tonalism 1880-1920 about the differences between Impressionism and Tonalism (regarding memory, continued from yesterday)-
Both begin with the data of place and moment- the quasi-scientific recording of light in the outdoors-but the Tonalist tended to record his vision through memory, or memory notes, for later use in the indoors. In the studio, as the memory or afterimage held in the mind's eye was put down on the canvas, the art object itself began to make its own demands;thus an internal dynamic took over and the artist had to ultimately satisfy the dictates of the art object. The original inspiration, the impulse to capture form, color, and tone,took second place to the formal values required by the work of art.at least in the exacting determination of the artist............

It was, too, the kind of art that lives and breathes, that emerges from memory, imagination, and association: the felt life that decades later mark Rothko was essential to his disembodied art.
9x9  watercolor dusk

7 comments:

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't sleep last night. I hope tonight goes better.

I ordered my copy of the Tonalism book. I blame you for that! I love the idea of painting more from memory because it seems that it allows for more of the artist to be in the painting. As your is above. You have determined the essence of this painting. It looks quiet in your memory of that snow and dusk scene.

Caroline Simmill said...

I love your memory of snow Loriann, it reminds me of a fairy tale world full of magic. I read the link on memory painting by Deborah and I found your thoughts on the subject very interesting and the passages from the Tonalism book.
I do hope you will feel better soon, it must have been wonderful just to get into the studio for a while last night. I wish you a good night's sleep. I am also tempted to buy the Tonalism book!

SamArtDog said...

Middle of the night painting is art-by-feel. What you choose to do at that time is not visual, but visceral. Given that, I think the watercolor comes from the heart and is the most honest.

Sleep tight tonight.

loriann signori said...

Yay Kvan is ordering the book! You won't be sorry! Months, or should i say years of enjoyment! Thanks for the sleep wishes! At least I get to paint if I don't sleep..heehee. On another note memory is an amazing thing. It needs to be trained like a dog learning trips. At first it feels almost imposssible to respond from only memory...but things change. Enjoy Kvan!

Hi Caroline...Yes yes get the book. I know YOU will love it.Thanks so much about the snow painting!

Hi SAm! Thanks about the watercolor...my hubby looked at it and said...what's that? I liked it. Let's see what the sleep fairie s bring tonight. I think I am ready to sleep. nighty night!

Jala Pfaff said...

...And I still love your plain watercolors so much.

Double "D" said...

Hi B, I love the watercolor too.
Sleep well and get healthy.
pb

loriann signori said...

Thanks Jala!

Thank you too PB! I will get sleep now! thanks for your support!