The Light Fantastic

Light.

I have written before of its significance - its centrality - to our lives and our arts. (Click here to read.)

Light is mentioned repeatedly in the PBS documentary about the Adirondacks, which first aired in May 2008. Through the history of white settlers' wilderness explorations and into the present day, people have found that something about these mountains creates an extraordinary quality of light.

Artists strive to capture a sense of this quality; as the source of vision, light is the root of all visual arts. Painters especially seek that elusive, magical illumination which will elevate a two dimensional surface to three dimensions - or more, if time can be considered a fourth. Since the 19th century, many have embraced the value of working "en plein air", or in the open air, as a way to understand light. Painting in this way has its own challenges, of course - not least of which is the need to work quickly, for light changes constantly with the earth's rotation.




Plein air paintings are often suffused with light in a way unique to the painting world. Have you seen, standing in the woods on a cloudy day, how softly the light might touch a mossy boulder or a naked branch? The forms are hard, defined, unyielding - but the light is gentle, and alters their solidity.



Alternately, have you found vivid colors and sharp shadows when direct sun pours down? Colors appear which you never saw before; shadows develop layers of depth; water can even hurt the eyes with its brilliance.



A master of plein air painting sees these things and more, and expresses them on (usually) canvas or paper. A painting made by such a master can bring you to the world, so you almost smell the pines, feel the touch of breeze, hear the splashing river.



Such a master is Sandra Hildreth. Pictured above is one of her plein air portals, a doorway to an Adirondack afternoon. Her style is realistic, but more: it leads you from the confines of your daily life, your worries and distractions, into a realm more than real, a place where you see as never before.



A place where light comes alive.



Sandra's work is currently featured at the Adirondack Artists' Guild in Saranac Lake; that show has an opening reception Friday, June 5th, and will hang until July 5th. (As I have written before, the AAG knows how to throw an opening!) If you can't make it to Saranac Lake, however, she will also have a show at the Tannery Pond Community Center in North Creek from June 27th through July 30th.



If you can, go see her work. You will gain a richer vision of our world, and a fuller comprehension of light.