When Light Becomes A Storyteller

Where the Shadows Gather, giclee on canvas 48x40” unframed

As the light in a room changes, so does the way a painting can be seen. Colors that seemed farther away can begin to move forward, depth becomes more noticeable, and details that were easy to overlook earlier in the day can suddenly stand out.

Much of this comes from the way I work with color and tone. Using different variations within a color creates a push and pull throughout the painting, allowing some areas to recede while others come forward. As the lighting around the work changes, that effect can become much more noticeable.

Anyone who has visited Tanner Gallery & Studio is likely familiar with these characteristics that have come to define the style of my work. What is interesting is that the painting does not always present itself in quite the same way throughout the day. Bright natural light may emphasize one area, while a darker room can bring forward colors and details that seemed much less prominent only a few hours earlier.

Where the Shadows Gather is a great example of this. During the day the architecture, ironwork, branches, and layers of texture are easy to pick out. As the room gets darker, the icy blue background begins to move forward and the painting takes on more depth. The chandelier and light from the windows also appear brighter against everything surrounding them.

This change has led to some interesting reactions over the years. While looking at Where the Shadows Gather in lower light, people have told us they begin to see figures within the scene, even though there are no figures painted into the work. The light coming from inside the house, the dark openings, and everything that remains unseen leave enough room for the viewer to begin imagining their own story.

The painting itself has not changed. What changes is the light around it and, sometimes, what we begin to see because of it.

That is one of the things I have always enjoyed about working this way. A painting seen during the day may offer something different later that night, and even a familiar work can continue to surprise you simply because the light has changed.