The Artist Who Captured Light

 I have often thought that those who can do, do, while those who can not criticize.  These thoughts occurred to me as I read the post today, at the American Thinker by Gregory Smith entitled Renoir derangement syndrome and the cult of obscurity. Gregory takes the art world to task for its belief in something called "high art" and the "difficult barriers normally raised" by it. For by being consciously obscure, so-called "artists" claim a status that they don't deserve. The truth is that the average Joe can see right through it.

A long time ago, I painted as a hobby. In the process of learning about the craftmanship of painting, I studied a number of styles and methods stretched my own canvases and applied gesso. One of the styles I studied, and which I attempted to imitate in philosophy of work was the Impressionist style. Renoir was not the leader of this school but was the most recognizable and longest lasting practitioner of impressionism.

Impressionists, influenced by the new art of photography, sought to capture a scene at a particular moment in time. Thus, the rushed brush strokes as they strived to capture the light before it changed. It was an exciting but short-lived time in art, and impressionism inspired artist such as Cezanne who is considered the father of modern art. I encourage gentle readers to investigate the impressionists because I think you might find it exciting too in its use of realistic colors and their ideas about how light interacts with matter.

Renoir had honed his craft painting porcelain plates and other products at a porcelain factory starting at the age of 13. He did not come from wealth, as did some of his contemporaries, and he had a wife and children to feed. He, unlike the picture painted of him by Kermit Champa, was a rather humble man. His idea of art was as something to decorate a wall. His true genius lay in his finely honed craftmanship. Renoir could say more with a single brush stroke than all the fake "arteests" making obscure mishmashes today. Today's art is filled with ugliness and all the inspiration of grey, Soviet style apartment blocks. Uggh.

I owe a big thank you to Gregory Smith for reminding me of my favorite impressionist. Renoir's art was innocent, approachable, and for the everyman.