Monday, May 5, 2014

John Singer Sargent

One of my very favorite artists is John Singer Sargent. In January Leila, Bridget, and I (Like Mother Like Daughter) went to the Boston's Museum of Fine Arts to see the exhibit of Sargent's watercolors. (The visit and awesome lunch was a birthday present from Leila.)

It was wonderful. Sargent's watercolors are so spontaneous. 
Sargent Watercolors at Brooklyn Museum
I certainly learned a lot from seeing his work up close. I have a couple of books of Sargent's work, including some of his watercolors, but it is a different experience to see the pieces in all their glory. For one thing, the colors can never be reproduced truly in a book. There were a lot of paintings in this exhibit. Almost too much if you are studying every painting very carefully.
Seeing great art up close is important. One can examine a piece closely, see how the artist worked; the nuances of color and brush strokes, and the surprises. And then, you can step back and see the whole. See how it all comes together. As an artist I like to contemplate a work and imagine the steps taken to complete it. Makes you realize how important it is to step back from your own work. Paintings are meant to be viewed at a distance.

 I've read (Notes on Sargent) that he would tell his students to "Stand back -- get well away -- and you will realize the great danger there is over overstating a tone. Keep the thing as a whole in your mind. Tones so subtle as not to be detected on close acquaintance can only be adjusted by this means."

After seeing the Sargent exhibit I was very inspired to start using watercolors again. I had given it up a few years ago because nothing ever turned out the way I wanted.
Also, I need to remember to make more trips to museums. Boston isn't far and Worcester is very close with their fine arts museum: Worcester Art Museum. The WAM does have excellent collections.
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3 comments:

  1. LorraineMay 10, 2014 at 11:17 AM

    I'm not an artist, but enjoy looking at art up close. I fell in love with the work of Sargent when I visited an exhibit of his work at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts many years ago. Such wonderful color. I could hardly tear myself away. I agree that seeing art "in person" is so much better than looking at it in books.
    Love your blog and the beautiful work you create.

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    1. ElizabethMay 10, 2014 at 11:27 AM

      Thanks for your comments Lorraine. Glad you love Sargent. I've read a lot about him and I think the greatest thing that I take away from that is that he seemed to just relax and use his God given talent. Even when he was rubbing out his portrait work 18 times before he got it right. :)

      And, thanks for your compliments. Am ever grateful.

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  2. Mrs. CoteJanuary 31, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    I'm a first time visitor to your lovely blog. Your mention of the WAM caught my eye. I loved going there in my early twenties when I was living fairly close by. My favorite room was a dimly lit room of mostly religious, medieval art. It felt so peaceful in there! The whole museum felt small enough to be accessible to me. I hope to visit again soon when all the Higgins Armory collection is set up.

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