The Singers, oil on canvas, by Odd Nerdrum
An operatic ballet in a mountain-scape. The tension in the toes, the rhythm of the leg muscles. The repetition of shapes, of rhomboids and pyramids. But mostly the warmth and luminosity of the light: white golds over milky blues, over light ochres, glazed over with cool bluish white. And the hue of the faces tinted to resonate with the sky. It is altogether scintillating and glorious: a hymn of tension, harmony and luminosity.
Alyosha and a Kitty, oil on cardboard, by Lucy Ivanova
https://www.saatchiart.com/ivlusia
One of my favourite artists on saatchiart.com and one of my favourite paintings. Ivanova’s work has a palpable, quivering presence, a sense of haunting spatial truth and an electric sadness suspended on the edge of something nameless.
Onions and Bottle (1895-1900), Paul Cezanne.
It is the background colouring that draws me in and holds me – those effortless oscillations between emerald, mauve and lilac; his brush dispensing with the remains of his palette so softly, with such timeless touch. And the slight tilt of the wine bottle, its soft and sharp edging, solidified into the eternal shape of a song.
In August and September of this year I had the privilege of being a student at The Nerdrum School, at Odd Nerdrum’s estate in Norway. It was an extraordinary time and it has taken some time for me to get enough distance to reflect upon it. If you have not heard of Odd Nerdrum, then the best introduction is through his work: www.nerdrummuseum.com
To begin with, this is not really a ‘school’, but an in-residence apprenticeship. There are no fees. The only expense is food. In this respect it is almost like WOOFing (willing workers on organic farms). Students assist Odd in the studio and model if required. The only other expectation is that students will paint, will work on their craft, and do so from life, in community.
My first days there were quite magical. The weather was good and in the early evening Odd would set up outside to work on a portrait of a fellow student, Natalia. That particular evening light is very important for Odd, as is having a timetable for modeling appointments through the day. During those early evening sessions we gathered round to watch Odd paint, and what a joy that was! Having marveled at his work for some years it was something of a miracle to watch a painting emerge.
The Nerdrum estate, called Memorosa, is located in the forest, by the sea. From the window of the student studio one can gaze far out into the ocean. The water is surprisingly warm, and the natural environment glorious. It is a world far removed from built up urban environments, a fact which reflects Odd’s earth-rooted approach to life and painting. From my diary on 12 August:
It is a beautiful, clear evening, waves crashing on the rocks, clouds limned with light – the lightest copper blue blushing across the sky – a sail touched by the gold of the setting sun, a bulwark of dusty mauve clouds sailing passed.
If this sounds like a kind of paradise, then it’s not far off! But within this paradise there are also shadows. Real people live here, with all their personal ghosts, beliefs, projections, devils and angels. Those ghosts may find their way into paintings, and those beliefs may emerge as heated arguments. But Memorosa is a safe place for them all to surface, the calm structure and atmosphere of the day ensured by Turid Spildo’s (Odd’s wife) cool, assured management, and quiet, friendly direction.
This is, however, no place for beginners or hyper sensitive souls. There is no instruction as such, and those who need it can flounder. Those with enough experience can learn an incredible amount just through watching Odd work, and from each other, by painting and drawing every day. Another entry from 12 August:
One thing Odd said earlier in the day has stuck with me – that a story in a painting must have a past, a present and a future – intimations and indications of each.
It may sound obvious enough but it is one of the things that sets Odd apart from his contemporaries: he is a narrative painter – one of the last – and his paintings invariably have stories to tell. We ‘read’ them because the compositions and delivery are bewitching, but those things are in turn empowered by the substance of the plot.
It was a reminder that developing ones technique is not an end in itself; that technique is there to help unearth the vision which haunts the spirit.
To be continued…
10 DEC | 11AM-2PM | UNITY YOGA, SPILLERS LANE, CLONAKILTY
Don’t miss out on this monthly life painting and drawing workshop! We start with one hour of drawing (short & medium length poses) with instruction and demonstration, followed by 90 minutes of painting (one long pose). For 10 December we have a female model. There are a maximum of 8 places in the workshop, so get in quick! You can book and pay on the courses page and register on the registrations page for student resources.
