From Dark into Light VII, ©John O’Grady
18″ x 8.25″ x 0.75″, acrylic on canvas, ready to hang.
SOLD
This piece has the feel of a silver gelatin photograph.
I started out using black and white vinyl acrylic for its matt velvety look when dry and then added an iridescent silver to add a reflective quality in the highlights.
That technique worked well in this series’ previous works but with this one, it was a real struggle.
This finished piece, the fourth incarnation on that canvas, came together at the eleventh hour.
I am so glad I persevered (must keep that in mind when feeling like downing brushes!).
This piece pleases me.
It is full of drama and the composition works.
Reading the painting from left to right, it moves from dark into light below the horizon.
The sea, still and inky, burns white in the far right.
In the sky, the movement from dark into light comes from the opposite direction to balance out with the sea.
The small dark clouds float by, close to the horizon line while the white ghostly cumulus clouds rise vertically.
Have you noticed the horizon line?
It resides just off centre to avoid splitting the painting in two whilst keeping harmony in the piece. The cumulus clouds’ discernable reflection in the sea reinforces that sensation. It’s when I sat down to write these notes that I realised these aspects of composition.
As mentioned earlier, at first the monochromatic arrangement didn’t work. But when I added a pearlescent turquoise to the silver and black, it was like magic.
The painting was transformed.
It now has a dreamy, hushed atmosphere.
What do you think?
I love this painting, John. I feel I am in a wonderful dream and want it to continue. The pearlescent turquoise is brilliant (though of course I haven’t seen the painting without it, I can imagine it’s enhancing effect). Thanks for sharing your work and your thoughts.
Hello Rachel,
Thank you very much for your comment. Yes the pearlescent seemed to shift the painting into another realm. Glad to hear it connected with you.
In tonality and composition, this is really masterful, John. The range in quality of light and dark is remarkable. The black areas of the sky are like punctuation marks as one reads from left to right and give the eye’s journey greater depth. The large cumulus cloud has a kind of animal majesty to it. As I do with so many of your paintings, here I get a sense of a wakeful consciousness in the natural elements. So along with “dreamy and hushed” there is also a kind of watchful presence. Quite an achievement, John, and a beautiful gift on a Sunday.
Hello Jo,
I do like that you picked up on the black areas of sky and your description of how they act as ‘punctuation marks’ it is just perfect and yes they lead the eye through and into the painting. I find it interesting that the cumulus cloud manages to convey ‘majesty’ as I was really happy with how it scaled in the painting and although physically small does dominate. Glad to hear it beautified your Sunday Jo
‘From Dark into Light is the perfect title John as you have created amazing subtle tones in the transition from one to the other. It is very lovely to look at , dramatic yet balanced and harmonious – it would provide endless interest and pleasure. I have never seen a painting with this pearlescent turquoise effect – inspired!
In this painting John I sense a voyage of change and discovery …fleeting ship like clouds being dragged along by prevailing winds of the Atlantic constantly transforming and shape shifting in search of a place quite remote where we reach the euphoria of our dreams.
It reminds me of the story of The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, it being more about the turbulent colourful journey rather than reaching the ultimate trophy destination. A painting full of hope John inspiring ongoing possibilities with heightened illumination of all our senses as we journey towards the dawn of light..
Hello Irene,
I will have to take a look at Paolo Coelho, it sounds a very interesting book. I made a painting a few months ago called the ‘Journey’ which featured a family of clouds. Your comment reminded me of that painting Irene, thank you.