Watercolors and Oils: Doors to The Masters

Three Masters: Thomas Moran, Pierre Bonnard and John Singer Sargent.

Each, presenting ‘the door’ in their own way.

 

 

Art Masters to know

 

Sargent

Sargent, with his loose and easy watercolor flair.

Seemingly just flinging color in the air; then it all,  as if by magic, comes to together.

 

The shadowed door, off to the right takes the eye in, causing us to wonder a moment.

To enter ‘their’ world.

We wonder, Who, might have lived here once, so long ago?

 

The overriding blue throughout, unifies and calms. Soft gentle ripples, tell us it is a quiet day, early in the morning.

Sargent created a calm and relaxing scene here.

But then,  was it really that peaceful upon the water highways in Venice in those days…….

 

 

 

 

Bonnard

Pierre Bonnard,  his oils quirky and so bright.

It is apparent, he breathed color in.

And then it was released.

 

Color,  exudes from every painting he created.

The door,  shadowed grey, in a butter yellow room, creeps open.

A figure, begins to peek in,  as ‘Marthe’ seems to try to sneak her way inside.

 

It is deliberate.

Bonnard’s choice of the door being …. only barely ajar.

As well as the green cap and green blouse.

So too the warmth of the room she  is entering into.

His choices, cause us to respond a certain way.

 

There most definitely is, content and meaning, within the objects used and all

the choices Bonnard made.

 

As we pause, and look at the painting,  I’m sure the  door, its symbolism won’t be overlooked.

Bonnard, is a fantastic artist. All you have to do to see more is Google. His work is stunning.

 

 

 

Moran

Thomas Moran, skilled and knowing.

His movements are purpose driven, deft and certain.

Moran, knew watercolor.

Knew their capacities and then, stretched those capacities to their farthest reaches.

 

Many watercolorists,  may never have heard of Moran.

Thats a shame, for his skills in this medium were amazing.

If, you’re a beginner watercolorist….. you can’t go amiss, by looking up his paintings and studying from them.

Google, Pinterest, etc.  will provide hundreds of his watercolor paintings to ogle.

More, on Thomas Moran at Smithsonian. 

 

Moran’s painting, is set further back into the distance, than Sargent’s or Bonnard’s.

We are at the same time more removed from the scene, yet we are entranced and drawn in too.

 

That warm ball of evening sun, pulls us in compellingly.

Even while the doors and windows seem cool and almost, rebuff us from trying to enter into them.

There isn’t the same feeling, of wanting to Go Inside these doors.

Not at all.

 

Moran, didn’t want us to.

 

 

 

 

Key Points ….from The Masters

• Doors,  a symbolic element in art
• Painting, make each action “A Purpose Driven Movement”
• Placement of objects,  creates a story, a message
• Color – it makes us Feel!