I would be deceiving you if I said these recent sunny summer days were not my cup of tea. As most know sunny days are seldom in the British Isles and are welcomed with great excitement, high expectation and full joyed by skimpy clad bodies, beers up the boozer for the lads and with utter glee. It is a bliss and a blessing not only for its health benefits, its uplifting and energetic effect on humans and nature. It is surely apprecie-loved by artists worldwide for the tremendous amount of light source it brings.
- The beginnings of my first outdoor painting this summer (acrylic on canvas)
I believe most artists including myself finds working in natural light compared to its closest replica that of which would be kelvins in daylight bulbs – (artificial light) a joy and of course there isn’t any better alternative. As a colourblind – (at least that has been the diagnostics by eye doctors from a result of the many eye tests I have undertaken) I have learnt to photographically memorize colours and still do so to express myself within this artform. Never have I allowed or found it to be of any hindrance as I have always been who I am. What I have found to be of hindrance whilst creating is the lack of natural light. Here in the British Isles the skies are usually carpeted with a grey smog – hardly clouds but pollutants. Obviously times like these the daylight bulbs play its role, and I am grateful for having both light sources however, natural light will always trump the kelvins anytime, anywhere.
- (Sunny day) = Hard Light
Photographers use the terms soft Light – (Cloudy Day) and hard Light – (Sunny Day) – both play a particularly important role in the development of photographic images. These said terms are also portrayed in paintings to depict certain moods and will continue to be of fundamental importance for artists throughout. Excluding experimental pieces such as painting in the dark or painting blindfolded or even for artists that are vision impaired, I believe it is vital to have ample light, preferably natural light whilst creating or expressing oneself with paint. Obviously staring at a white canvas in sunny conditions would not be recommended as doing so for long periods will affect your sight so a shady tree, on the verandah, the porch or near to that perfect window may be ideal – whatever is available to acquire the best results for the creative process.
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