In her diary dated April 29, 1802, Dorothy Wordsworth (William’s sister) described an arresting effect of sunlight : “we rested a long time under a wall, sheep and lambs were in the field, - cottages smoking. As I lay down on the grass I observed the glittering silver line on the ridge of the backs of the sheep owing to their situation respecting the sun, but with something of strangeness, like animals of another kind as if belonging to a more splendid world.” The artist/poet William Blake would have agreed with Dorothy.
I too find the sight of natural back-lighting - whether of tall reeds or playing children - to be utterly transporting. Too often when I spy it, it’s only to remember that I’ve idiotically forgotten my camera but once in a while I do capture and paint this “more splendid world.”
A number of friends have mentioned their fondness for “The Big Day” and I just realized that the rim light which anoints the flower girls gets most of the credit. The daylight is streaming from the top right so a thin line of brightness traces their faces on that side and continues down the right arm of the second flower girl. Because the tulle is bouffant the sun also floods their side skirts with light. My decision to place the two little girls against a black colour field was driven by my desire to preserve and accent that precious glow.
The lower the sun, the more pronounced the gleaming silhouette, so if you are in search of the “glittering silver line,” start early or wait till late. Just remember that dang camera!
I too find the sight of natural back-lighting - whether of tall reeds or playing children - to be utterly transporting. Too often when I spy it, it’s only to remember that I’ve idiotically forgotten my camera but once in a while I do capture and paint this “more splendid world.”
A number of friends have mentioned their fondness for “The Big Day” and I just realized that the rim light which anoints the flower girls gets most of the credit. The daylight is streaming from the top right so a thin line of brightness traces their faces on that side and continues down the right arm of the second flower girl. Because the tulle is bouffant the sun also floods their side skirts with light. My decision to place the two little girls against a black colour field was driven by my desire to preserve and accent that precious glow.
The lower the sun, the more pronounced the gleaming silhouette, so if you are in search of the “glittering silver line,” start early or wait till late. Just remember that dang camera!
"The Big Day" 24 x 24 Oil on Panel
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