This post features a somewhat random selection of photos from a recent trip to The Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass. I posted about this visit here and posted about a visit some time ago here, Sterling Clark and his Money.
Hands, cow, crucifixion, Clark II
Stopping for lunch, I brought up my very small paintings on paper from my basement studio. It is one I did while sitting on the beach in Truro over Labor Day weekend. I never finished it, and I never took a photo of the scene. BTW I have given up taking photos to work from. The distortions of space and color really throw me off.
But, that Truro sky? I never noted the color of that sky – though I got the water color pretty nicely, I’ll have you know. ANyway, the sky color I need is of course the one reflects off that distant dark water, on a perfectly clear day. I will only have one chance to pull off this color as I’m working on water color paper and using washing of gouache.
Also checking in here (my favorite lunchtime reading) and behold, found myself salivating over these paintings. Looking over at my very small painting, it struck me: WINSLOW HOMER. HE is the master of painting all kinds of weather on the sea. And I recall seeing one Winslow Homer at The Clark Museum (in the 70’s?), but I’m not up for driving to Williamstown this weekend, and what are the chances it would be the Winslow Home sea painting I need the color from? So, I googled to see if I could bring back every sea painting by WH. I *found* one where the color of the sky as reflected off the sea is close enough to what I need. And I’m going to finish my painting in the next 2 1/2 minutes 🙂 🙂
I know that Truro sky you’re describing and it is magical. Gosh the pressure to get it right in a single attempt must be very daunting. I can send you some photos of mine from Truro is you want? Just to look at color perhaps.
oh but of course! I haven’t taken brush to the painting itself yet
Such beauty in so many forms