Wednesday 29 August 2012

Light and Shadow

As I walked through the forest the other day I was delighted at the sight of a large colourful fungus. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me, so I went back later and took a few pictures. As the summer slowly wanes I have been aware of the change in the light. So as I walked in the forest I recorded the patterns of light and shadow that I saw around me and was reminded of the proverb "Every light has its shadow".


 

I know it is difficult to get an idea of the size of this fungus from this picture but you will have to take my word for it being about a foot and a half across (45 cm) and more than a foot deep and high (30 cm); a very impressive specimen so I hope you will forgive the number of pictures I have included.

 







 








 




I decided to see what others had to say about light and shadow and found some interesting quotes:

"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." William Shakespeare




 



"I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better."
Plutarch





 
"False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade."
Christian Nestell Bovee
 



 










 


"The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope."
Frank Lloyd Wright



"Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life."
Jean de La Fontaine
 




 

"Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is - it is her shadow. "
Ambrose Bierce






 


"Shadow is a colour as light is, but less brilliant; light and shadow are only the relation of two tones."
Paul Cezanne


 


"Without black, no color has any depth. But if you mix black with everything, suddenly there's shadow - no, not just shadow, but fullness. You've got to be willing to mix black into your palette if you want to create something that's real."
Amy Grant 
 
Shadow in art or painting is what gives shape and substance to a work, without shadow there is no depth. In fact, I might ask, what came first the light or the shadow, because surely there is not one without the other.

I am still very busy painting and framing for my art show, only another couple of weeks of this furious activity, then I hope to get back to a more normal routine.

Here is a watercolour that I have finished recently called "Light and Shadow". It is inspired by a fountain that I saw and photographed while in Europe.



Thank you for your visit, I really appreciate your interest in my little corner of the world.

Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next time ...........

 

32 comments:

  1. I like your updated profile shot, Gillian. So cute! Also, the huge fungus in the forest is quite a find. Its overlapping layers would produce a wealth of light and shadow. And the quote from Shakespeare about life and shadow is a timeless observation that seems even more relevant today.

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  2. i like your painting - fits perfectly with your light and shadow post. a fierce image with a play of rainbow.

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  3. Your paintings are so beautiful, and I can now totally see what you mean...it's beautiful how you used shadow to create depth in your work. Lovely photos of the forest too.

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  4. Always enjoy how you look at the world as well as your beautiful art. Many wishes for your upcoming show!

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  5. fungus like that can be really big. Quite marvellous.

    You have many nice things around. :)

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  6. Beautiful forest images. The detail on the fungus is very beautiful. I like the Plutarch quote.

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  7. It's so wonderful to see your talent for painting Gillian and your photos are fantastic as well.
    Love the new profile pic.
    A big hug from Drew xx

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  8. a very beautiful serie of images !
    wonderful lights !
    love your painting Gillian

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  9. Gillian, I loved your walk thru the forest. The cool looking fungi and shadows are beautifully captured. I really enjoyed all the shadow quotes you have posted, so many great quotes. Thanks for sharing, good luck on your show.

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  10. I like your watercolor very much. That giant fungus is amazing. Wonderful shots from the forest.

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  11. I like your painting very much, with the light it also shows its textures as well. Enjoyed viewing your photos and post on light.

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  12. I love it all! But I had a thought. Your yellow fungus shots are really wonderful. The colors, shadows etc remind me of a coral reef shelf. This would be a cool thing to paint. Beautiful color in nature.

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  13. What a beautiful dance of light and shadow. Those long leaves that are curling downwards in a row are so unusual and utterly gorgeous.

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  14. Hi there - what a great set of pictures - I like the spider!

    Fungi always seem to take on such strange forms.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

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  15. Light and shadow is pretty much what photography is all about.. and perspective.. and luck. You certainly captured your images at a lovely time of day for that. The fungus is amazing. Your art, as always is lovely. You produce wonderful shadows and light in its lines. I'm always so impressed with your talent.

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  16. I enjoyed looking for the shadows in all your photos and especially appreciate the dappled leaves on the pathway. I idd a little painting in a friend's studio yesterday and was just thinking about how the shadows looked in my hose this morning - the quotes you included are thought provoking. thanks Gillian! Good luck with your upcoming show!

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  17. I must remember to spell check - apologies
    Gillian...

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  18. How beautiful is your painting...your show is going to be a great success.

    That is one huge fungus, even for around there.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  19. How beautiful is your painting...your show is going to be a great success.

    That is one huge fungus, even for around there.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  20. You are so right about the importance of shadows in Art and Photographic Art. Very nice and interesting array.

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  21. I love this post on light and shadow, Gillian. Your photos illustrate the concept very well. I wish I could see your watercolour in person.

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  22. a wonderful entry!!

    some very fancy fungi...

    and i really enjoyed the friendship quotes!!

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  23. Tantalizing mushrooms, beautiful walk in the forest, and the painting, "Light and Shadow", superb.

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  24. So many wonderful photos. And I just love all the quotes you added.. And your watercolor is fabulous. You are so talented my friend..

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  25. The fungus in that golden light seemed like a beautiful rose. Shakespeare's quote reminded me ( i need lots of those) not to sweat the small stuff. Bierce's thought that doubt shadows truth gave me lots to think about. I liked your watercolour. You art reflects an impressive variety of styles.

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  26. Great theme for a post! Your photograph/quote pairing is wonderful. Wow, that fungus is really quite something. Fabulous watercolor, as well!

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  27. Fabulous photos and I LOVE your watercolor. Absolutely amazing!

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  28. Hi dear...
    so beautiful---Love them all.
    Thank You. xo
    BShell

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  29. The photos are well done.

    I like the walk in the forest type pictures. As those say something about our landscape before the Europeans came — when a squirrel in a tree on the East Coast could travel through the canopy across the country and was forced to stop only at the Mighty Mississippi River.

    Those were the days when a forest was really pristine and its inhabitants didn't have cameras.

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  30. A wonderful collection of photos. The fungi is very impressive, I like the raindrops hanging off it too. Shadows do add such depth to photos and are a cooling relief in the heat of summer also.

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