Light and shadow need each other to be seen
“In nature, light creates the color. In the picture, color creates the light.” – Hans Hofmann
Hello friends, the winter light in Decatur is inspiring me these days - actually has done so since I moved here. After living in this house for two and a half years, I’ve gotten to know my light a bit better here. This week’s post is about how light inspires and affects my art making, and the art of others too.
Read on for my latest article.
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Visit my art website: KrisCahillArt.com.
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Thank you for being here, I always appreciate you for showing up.
Love, Kris
I’m playing with light this week.
Two things are inspiring my focus on light right now.
My SE facing art studio has incredible light in the winter. It’s my favorite light of the year, and helping me see things in a different light, so to speak.
It’s starting to hint at spring where I live. New life is on its way. It’s very inspiring to me!
Light creates compositions simply by showing up. I like to look at how the light paints an image right in front of me. A sunny day with interesting light is always a different matter from a cloudy one, though that light is magical in its own way too.
Seeing the way light creates reality reminds me that when I show up with my own light, things are more exciting to look at, more interesting to the eye. I can see much more clearly and deeply when I am present.
Things and people look very different depending on the light. Shadows cause objects and people to disappear or deepen, color fades or becomes saturated.
Emotions and light are intertwined. An artwork or photograph or what’s right in front of us feels differently, depending on the light. There are those beautiful foggy summer days that have a completely different energy and emotion than a bright sunny day.
There are many phrases to describe the relationship between light and dark: look at the light side, go to the dark side. Go to the light. Lighten up. Dark and mysterious. Film noir is all about this emotional sense, with stark high contrast lighting and a deeper underlying depth.
Light and dark need each other. They are two sides of the same coin, neither better or worse. Bright needs depth to be seen, deep colors benefit from some light.
Color and light need each other. Colors deepen and become rich and beautiful, colors brighten and lighten. Summer noon sun bleaches and heats, winter noon sun warms and glows.
I’ve lived in four distinctly different climates so far - the midwest, southern California, the Pacific Northwest, and now the southeastern part of the country. The light is unique in each of those places, along with the emotions that show up with that light. The cycles of the earth shift the light continuously, it’s a never ending show. The sky at any time of day is fascinating.
Artists work with light. Light is a character in the stories I tell in my paintings. Light is an ally, a partner in making art.
This week I went on a deep dive into photographs I’ve taken in years past. I was happy to find so many that worked for today’s post. I’m always drawn to the brilliance of color and light combined with deeper colors and shadows. They are beautiful together.
The two photos below feature the work of Decatur sculptor and musician Clark Ashton. I met Clark through my sister, because they are partners, and have spent many happy times at their house enjoying these incredible sculptures. Visit Clark Ashton’s website.
Don't you know yet? It is your light that lights the world. — Rumi
Inspiration for the week
Like many of you, I’ve been exhausted by the ongoing state of things in the USA. So I was drawn to look to the light, because wherever there is an overwhelming darkness, there is also a light to see.
Quote of the week:
It's easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless, but we need to remember that all of these [economic] systems rest on the compliance of millions of ordinary people like you and me. If we withdraw our consent, if we stop feeling isolated and helpless and start reaching out to friends and neighbors who feel the same way, then we have enormous power.
One of the key ways these institutions take away our power is by making us think our voices are small and worthless. It's an important political and spiritual act to say, "My voice is worth something." We have to take civic responsibility and not be stopped by fear or a sense of powerlessness.
Democracy is like a horse: you can't keep it healthy when it's locked in the barn; you have to exercise it regularly.
"Louder than Words," Starhawk, interviewed by April Thompson, March 2003, The Sun Magazine
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for being here, and please do share with anyone you know who would enjoy my work. Cheers to you! Love, Kris