Last fall I talked about one of the most famous or infamous profile portraits in art history: John Singer Sargent’s Madame X.
I’ve been interested in Sargent’s work for a while now. In some ways conventional, but a little hard to pin down: portraitist to the gentry, an expatriate American at home in France and England, he was a friend and painter with the Impressionists, as well as a war artist. These are all part of Sargent’s allure perhaps, but it’s not just his formal work, it’s his watercolours. During his travels, Sargent painted for himself constantly, with a fine eye for simplicity of wash and superb brushwork – his images invariably look fresh and underworked. Sargent was one of the truly great watercolourists of his day.
Next Saturday, April 14th, is all about Sargent and his influence. Whatever your media, join us for the start of the Spring Break-a-Brush! Workshop Season.
