I am a plein air colorist in the representational tradition of Monet. I studied with Henry Hensche, master American impressionist and assistant to Charles Hawthorne at the Cape School of Art. Unlike a lot of other contemporary plein air artists, I focus on capturing the light key of nature.
Garden Bloom, oil on canvas, 24 x 30" (60 x 76 cm) This was painted at Mission San Juan Capistrano, one of my favorite painting locations. The light key is full sun, morning light. It was painted from a color study that I did on location. I then worked from a reference photo along with my color study and developed this painting in the studio. This was possible because I don’t just copy the photo reference, but bring to the reference what I have learned from painting on location for so many years.
Coastal Fog, oil on canvas, 9 x 12" (22 x 30 cm) This is an example of a gray day light key. If you compare this painting to my full sunlit paintings, you can see that the contrast between the light and shadow isn’t as great, and it is a cooler light key than full sun. There is a silver quality to the light that is very subtle but still filled with beautiful color. I feel I captured a spiritual quality in this landscape. I am very attached to the wetlands, and I feel this attachment comes through in this painting. This subject matter is very important and dear to me.
By light key, I mean the specific quality of light on a subject. Essentially, what we are painting, then, is not the object or subject in front of us, but the effect of light falling on that subject. When we refer to light key, we are referring to not only the light, but the collection of variables that modify the light falling on the subject, such as the time and type of day, the prevailing atmospheric conditions, nearby reflecting surfaces, etc.—whether it is sunny or cloudy, morning or afternoon.
Sonoma Farm Vista, oil on canvas, 9 x 12" (22 x 30 cm) Here’s another favorite spot of mine in Petaluma. I am up on a hill so I get a very different perspective looking down on these farm buildings. The light key in this painting is a sunny, morning light. This is a plein air piece, done on location. I direct you to the back farm buildings with the road and fence. I create interest and variety with the various flowers and bushes in the foreground and break up the pastures with some interesting color variations.
Riley, oil on panel, 20 x 16" (50 x 50 cm) I painted this sunny morning figure study from 9 a.m. to noon for three days. This is a development of a “mudhead,” which is a model painted outdoors, silhouetted against a glaringly bright background and painted with a palette knife. The background and figure are of equal importance. I have, in essence, painted the air around the figure.
I am often asked how I get color harmony and the beautiful color in my paintings. If you paint the light key of nature, your paintings will automatically have color harmony. As far as how I’ve achieved my own color, I have been painting on location for 35 years, developing my color perception and color memory. The key to a good painting is having a strong start, which makes the development of the painting much easier.
There is no limit to my growth as a colorist, and this is what keeps me engaged in this way of painting. —
About the Artist
Camille Przewodek
Camille Przewodek is an acknowledged authority on color who regularly serves as an entry and awards judge for various painting competitions and events. She is also a much sought-after instructor, advancing an approach to painting focused essentially on “seeing” the various light keys of nature and expressing them through accurate color relationships. She conducts painting workshops across the country and offers regular weekly classes at her home studio in Northern California.
Przewodek studied with impressionist master Henry Hensche at the Cape School of Art (founded by Charles W. Hawthorne in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1899). She is a signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters, Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society; a master signature member of American Women Artists; and an artist member of the California Art Club.
Contact at
fineart@sonic.net
www.przewodek.com