Painting from Life, in a New Light
By Janice Wittmer
My usual subject is the Contoocook River, a small meandering river that winds its way through fields and forests, featuring glass like reflections along the banks, intimate and protected.
Nothing like a totally new setting to break away from the comfort zone we tend to fall into when repeatedly painting a familiar subject.
A change of scenery can force an artist to discover a different color palette and interesting new shapes, a different quality of light perhaps.
What a wonderful opportunity to paint in the openness of the sky and ocean, with the challenge of craggy rocks and subtle reflected light.
It was a little overwhelming at first to take it all in and decide how to approach this new landscape. It was exciting to break out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a new light.
