Dustan Knight - Painting the Impressionistic Landscape: Exploring Light and Color in Watercolor and Acrylic

More Praise for Painting the Impressionistic Landscape:

informative, humorous, and lively. [Dustan Knight] understands the creative process and has a way of encouraging folks to develop their own style of painting. I appreciate how she inspires her students to get excited about creating.

Kathy Tangney, professional artist, Tong Ren Master

Dustan Knight uses her poetic language and painting expertise in guiding readers to take a fresh look at nature and create original, impressionistic watercolors and acrylics. This is far more than a how-to book, but a window into the creative mind, exploring new ways of working and seeing.

Debbie Hagan, arts writer and critic and former editor-in-chief, Art New England

Dustan Knight is a painter who combines artistic skill, knowledge, and enthusiasm with a flair for explaining the creative process in an easy and inspiring way. [She] paints from the heart, and this book will encourage every artist, from novice to experienced.

Joni Taube, art consultant and owner, Art 3 Gallery, Manchester, New Hampshire

Exploring Light & Color in Watercolor & Acrylic

Dustan Knight

2017 by Rockport Publishers

Original Artwork 2017 Dustan Knight

First published in the United States of America in 2017 by

Rockport Publishers, a member of

Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

100 Cummings Center

Suite 406-L

Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-6101

Telephone: (978) 282-9590

Fax: (978) 283-2742

QuartoKnows.com

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

Digital edition: 978-1-63159-329-1
Softcover edition: 978-1-63159-138-9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Knight, Dustan, author.

Painting the impressionistic landscape : exploring light and color in watercolor and acrylic / Dustan Knight.

Description: Beverly, Massachusetts : Rockport Publishers, 2017.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016023513 | ISBN 9781631593291 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Painting--Technique. | BISAC: ART / Subjects & Themes / Landscapes. | ART / Techniques / Painting. | ART / Techniques / Watercolor Painting.

Classification: LCC ND1500 .K56 2017 | DDC 751.42/2436--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016023513

Design: Rita Sowins/Sowins Design

Cover image: Dustan Knight

Photography: Karen Hill

I dedicate this book
to my Mom,
who was the artist
I try to be.

Morning Chop. Watercolor. 22" 33" (56 84 cm).

Tango Tulips. Acrylic. 40" 30" (101.5 76 cm).

Contents

Guide

Introduction

One of the best things about being an artist is having an excuse to actually stop and look around.

Seeing is a rare and luxurious activity these days. My paintings in watercolor and acrylic are inspired by the things I see and my impressions of them. When I paint Im not attempting to replicate whats in front of me. Im searching for subjects that I want to look at and experience deeply, for a long, focused time. I enjoy the process of translating them into my own vision of the world. I try to avoid the clichd scene but I dont want to deprive myself of possibilities either, so I try to look deeper than the obvious. I try to experience a subject as closely and as intimately as possible.

Sometimes its the atmospheric effects of mist through the trees that intrigues me as much as the trees themselves. Sometimes its the riot of contrasting color in the garden more than the actual blooms that I love. Sometimes its the sound of a wave booming under a seaweed covered ledge that makes me want to capture my impression of the sea on paper. My heightened experience of the woods, the garden, and the crashing waves involves all my senses: seeing, hearing, feeling, and even smelling. Thats what I am interested in capturing in my work.

I like to think my way of working is a continuation of the way the Impressionists approached painting. I have always felt their influence, both for the beauty of their work and for their philosophy. Originally the Impressionists insisted their artwork was based solely on an analytic reaction to a scene. But ultimately it became clear that their impressions were vastly informed by their feelings, expectations, and desiresin fact, very romantic. I like that and I like being part of the continuum of painting impressionistic landscapes.

In this book I am pleased to walk you through my creative steps. I have chosen three landscape themeswoods, garden flowers, and waterinspired by the natural features of the granite New Hampshire island where I live. I will show you several approaches and various ways to think about them. Each theme is considered separately with images and step-by-step demonstrations. The demonstrations detail the progress from concept to finished painting. I hope to share my way of seeing as well as the thought process and continual problem solving that develops as I paint.

Rebeccas Flower. Watercolor. 36" 36" (91.5 91.5 cm).

Approaches and Impressions

Poplars on the Epte, c. 1891. Oil on canvas. Claude Monet, French, 18401926. Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh. Bridgeman Images.

LAlle des Alyscamps, 1888. Oil on canvas. Vincent van Gogh, Dutch, 18531890. Private Collection. Bridgeman Images.