Thursday, May 10, 2007

I recently enjoyed a great exhibit at the Huntington Library of Constable's 6 foot oils and full size sketches. The sketches were very impressionistic (60 years before impressionism) but Constable then did them over in the required, tight style of the day where every leaf on the tree was defined. He liked a Z-shaped composition with theatrical lighting effects to force your eye to move around the canvas. This is my attempt at a Constable-style picture, rendered rather small and in watercolor rather than in oil. The original is startlingly vivid in tone for a watercolor. (Sold)

1 comment:

LinC said...

That'a a great realization of the Constable. I actually like yours better! I enjoyed seeing his huge canvases, but it was interesting that they were really best viewed from somewhat of a distance. That way your eye would blend the choppy strokes. They would look great hanging high over a big mantle piece in some English drawing room.

I can relate to the Constable better than to the Hummel...