Dawn, pastel, 2012 by Diana Hale
Here I go again – setting myself up in competition. Last time I was competing with Monet now I have taken on Nature herself! There is something so irresistible about the dawn when Nature is pulling out all the stops. At this time of year the light effects can be spectacular and it does not involve getting up in the middle of the night to see them. Why do we always want to try and capture those fleeting moments? Is it just to prolong the moment and fix the memory or does it bring out the urge to create ourselves?
Speed is everything and so photography wins there. Pastel can be a way of putting something on paper at speed too though. At least an impression (back to Monet again) is possible.
Dawn, photograph, 2012 by Diana Hale
Dawn, photograph, 2012 by Diana Hale
Another day, another dawn, a different vision. More subdued, subtler, still changing moment by moment. Sometimes there is more colour before the sun comes up, sometimes not.
Dawn, pastel, 2012 by Diana Hale
Dawn, photograph, 2012 by Diana Hale
Dawn, photograph, 2012 by Diana Hale
Sometimes a photograph becomes almost a painting, more Rothko than Monet this time.
Dawn, photograph, 2012 by Diana Hale
Dawn, photograph, 2012 by Diana Hale
Same place, so many images. I will always be fighting against Nature but I don’t mind if I lose, at least I have tried and satisfied that creative urge.
‘Dawn’ is a lovely image
Thanks for appreciating.
Lovely pictures. Your pastels remind me more of Turner than Monet
Beautifully evocative work, and a delight to see you capturing a light so fleeting!
Thanks Julian, I do love a challenge!
These are wonderful, Diana. Seeing the photos and pastels side by side is fascinating. There’s something in us that needs to express ourselves in nature – like a sort of communication, I think.
Thanks Lois, I hope I am communicating some idea of nature even if I can’t compete!
What gorgeous pictures!
Makes me long to see the sea again …
Thanks Anne and thanks for following.
Not surprisingly, I am drawn most to the “Rothko-like” photographs that are very like paintings. Those are quite stunning. I found it interesting to examine each piece on its own, then all together and finally, painting to photograph, photograph to painting. In each look, I discovered yet another perspective on the dawn. Well done, Diana.
Karen
I think I do approach taking photographs in the same way as painting to some extent but those few seemed to come out particularly painterly. Glad you liked the Rothko feel and thank you for taking the time to look so carefully.
Painting directly from nature is so much more vibrant than painting directly from photos, and you can see that very much here. There’s such different energy, but I am not looking forward to the short days of winter when the daylight is only when you’re in the office! This is a lovely time of year
Thanks Helen. i do prefer to do things on the spot although it is not always possible and more abstract work needs to be done away from any actual subject.
I know the feeling of dreading the lack of daylight, although dusk and dawn are my favourite times of day.
Hi. I think your pastels capture the gentleness of the dawn. Love those curving lines. Jane
Thanks for appreciating Jane.
I seem to recall Mallarmé once answered the question ‘Who is your favourite artist?’ on a Proust questionnaire with ‘the sunset’. I think this post proves he wasn’t being entirely facetious (or indeed, not at all)!
I love how in some of your photos, the qualities of pastel and photograph converge, especially in the last one.
Thanks for the French contribution! The qualities of the photos became closer to art somehow – all I did to process it was lighten it a bit!
Evocative photos (especially that last one) and pastels, yet such differences! Much to ponder here…
Thanks Gerry – that photo is quite strange!
Better guard your Rothkos…
I’d love to see the Birdwatchers at Dawn images Diana’d.
Ha yes very topical!
I didn’t have any art materials with me in Norfolk and somehow it’s not the same after the event.
I really like your pastel impressions of what are already lovely photographs.
Thank you for those kind words although they were all done from the real thing!
Oh! I see–you took photos and made pastels at the same time, not one from the other. Lovely, no matter what.