Musical Influences

I was listening to composer Ottorino Respighi's 'Ancient Aires and Dances'  the other evening, while looking through some old travel magazines and photos for a possible landscape painting subject. I had come across a scene of the Scottish Highlands before and liked it but wasn't sure it was a dynamic enough compostion.  Respighi's  'Aires and Dances'  aren't associated with Scotland or the British Isles  neccesarily, but there's a musical connection, I think, in the rhythms and cadences, and the slightly melancholy tone. (The pieces were actually based on some Renaissance Lute pieces of unspecific origin).  I ended up painting the Highland scene as best I could, and I would say Respighi's quietly beautiful and evocative music influenced me to do so.  I hope you like it.  An Italian, Respighi was a highly trained and successful composer and musicologist, who often drew on centuries-old references for his works.  He died in 1936, due to illness, at the young age of 56. 

John Guernsey

p.s. FYI.......just found out, an item on my recently mentioned event listing, The Roswell/Chattahoochee Plein Air Festival, (sept 28th+) has been canceled for this year.

Friday's Demo

Here's my 'demo'  from this past Friday's Marietta ArtWalk. It's a view of the Cobb County courthouse, as seen from the Art Museum porch.  Thanks to the Cobb/Marietta Art Museum and education director, Emily Ryals, for hosting the event; and thanks to those that came to watch the demo.

Here's an update of some of my upcoming events:

9/12.....studio class begins / Art School at Sandy Springs

9/17.....Art in the Square / Gainesville, GA  (10am-5pm)

9/24.....plein air class begins / Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art

9/28-10/1....Great Roswell / Chattahoochee River Plein Air Festival  (reception 10/1)

10/20,21.....Plein Air Festival / Smith Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw, GA  (reception 10/21)

Last week I was invited to attend the opening for artist Joe Remillard's show at Kennesaw State University. Joe is a professor there and his work is phenomenal.  His paintings are wonderfully detailed and realistic, and show a real understanding of light (which is not always evident in many realistic works), and are also interesting in their subject matter and story telling. The show remains until October 4th, and you must try to catch it if you can.

Well, that's all for now.......hope to see you at one of the 'events' !

John