This painting is all about that moment where the setting sun bursts across the sky in a final throw of  glorious vivid colour...it is always an emotional and uplifting moment to witness in life, one which makes you feel that no matter what, everything will be ok!  This piece is capturing that feeling with the spontaneous and dramatic colour application which echoes the spirit and mood found in those moments, occurring often during long summer evenings.

This was heavily inspired by my knowledge of some of the ‘Greats’, through my teaching I have come to really admire the work of the Expressionists, and before them the Impressionists, and there is no disputing that this has impacted on my own work. However, a book I have purchased recently, ‘Great Art Explained’, by James Payne has two sections that really pushed me to think about the emotional content of my work. That was the chapters of Munch ‘The scream’ and Monet ‘Water Lilies’, details here were new to me and very inspiring.

“These losses, combined with exposure to radical ideas in Christiania’s bohemian circle, pushed him toward emotionally charged, psychologically driven art that rejected realism.”

Munch ‘The Scream’

Great Art Explained by James Payne

 “Monet’s iconic water lily paintings were conceived as a tribute to the millions of lives lost during World War I, reflecting both personal and collective mourning.”

Monet ‘Water Lilies’

Great Art Explained by James Payne