The Thrill of the Whole
Amongst the multifarious joys of plein-air work, is focusing on what is really important in the scene. Our great Canadian modernist, David Milne said: “The painter doesn’t try to reproduce the scene before him… he simplifies and eliminates until he knows exactly what stirred him, sets this down in color and line as simply and as powerfully as possible and so translates his impression into an aesthetic emotion.” and “All detail is to increase interest in parts of the picture and so distract from the thrill of the whole.”
“the thrill of the whole” what a wondrous summation!
Book Now for July – Plein-air Wakefield Wednesdays!
Get ready with plenty of crimson to paint that famous covered bridge, powder tones for the colourful village and greens galore to capture nature’s harmony – without forgetting those cool, deep blues for the mighty Gatineau river.
We’re planning three one-day sessions: Wednesdays 3, 10 and 17 July with contingency rain-days on the following Thursdays. Cost is $75.00 per day for both morning and afternoon plein-air sessions at separate locations! Cost is $200 for the three days booked together.
Book directly via Credit, Visa debit or PayPal on our website: https://www.davidkearn.com/workshops/ or by Interac to david@davidkearn.com noting the dates being booked.
The OSA 145th Anniversary Bash was a great success
A big shout out to the organizers: Art battle, pottery throw down, face painting, antique cars, bagpipes, silent auction and more. What a great event!!
Fall Courses and Workshops
We’ve been asked about courses in the Fall and have added preliminary info to our website: https://www.davidkearn.com/workshops/
Send us an email and we’ll let you know when OSA Registration is open: david@davidkearn.com
Local Events
One of a Kind Table/Chair Auction Fundraiser, Wakefield, June 29 – click here
Glebe Art and Garden Tour, July 6 and 7 – click here
Let us know about your art event and we will include it!
Calling all Tom Thomson Lovers
Send us an email to david@davidkearn.com and we’ll keep you up to date with insights and pre-launch activities!
…and in the wider world of art
New museum exhibition celebrates women war artists: https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/new-museum-exhibition-celebrates-women-war-artists/
A new Jonathan Yeo portrait – David Attenborough. Never can I recall having so much discussion about an artist’s work than in the last month. Here is his latest: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jun/25/david-attenborough-jonathan-yeo-portrait-unveiled?
Darkening Green
Modifying any full-blown colour is a bit of a trade off. That’s because each colour/pigment has a natural value (degree of darkness). If you add a little of the complement or add black (something I avoid for a variety of reasons), this takes colour out, so the mix is darkened but consequently, dulled – because there is now comparatively less of the original colour left. The alternative is to use a full blown colour that is adjacent on the colour wheel, and that is naturally darker. This has some darkening effect, however colour is retained, howbeit shifted towards the mixed-in colour. I prefer to “blue” my greens, adding a nice dark ultramarine, which retains some greeniness, whilst adding value quickly. In doing so, I am following the lead of the impressionists – cooling rather than dulling colour!
Break-a-Brush!
David & France