More times than I can tell you, I’ve admired this church as I’ve passed by. It looks like it belongs on a knoll, above the bog, in England …cue the fog, please.
But, I’ve never been to England … this is a church on our soil, and it is beautiful and a tad rare with it’s rock structure. Architecturally, I’m not sure of what it would be called: I always think “Early California Mission Realized in Rock”. My ignorance aside, it’s a beautiful church.
I goofed-up and forgot to get a photo of the beginning sketch, so we’ll just move onto the final:
stone church steeple
Not a bell tower, I think more a bell arch. Lovely rosette window below, very ancient looking, solid-but-graceful … I love that the rosette window, along with the pointed steeple above it, harkens to the last line of the text: “As faith-based prayers are sent up, the steeple points the way: True North on a spiritual compass rose”. This church epitomizes that statement. I love and revere it.
Yes, I’m concurrently painting … some … but in keeping to my peripatetic nature, a bit of a drift today. Actually, in my mind, not “today” really because, over the course of a day, I go from painting to photo to whatever. Probably, most of us meander like that. I guess I admire those who wake to one focus and fall asleep later with the same. But, and alas, though, that’s not me – and, I do like the options, along with the accompanying breadth of challenges and knowledge/experience – though usually accompanied with creative confusion.
Meet a couple of old friends:
I’ve had these guys since, I don’t know, maybe the early/mid 70’s. I had, of course, a headband in those days … and with these guys around my neck, the self-image was W Eugene Smith or Lee Friedlander or Jerry McMillan … or probably more like Dennis Hopper in “Apocalypse Now” … either way, let’s just say the self-image and the reality-image did not share the same perspective … 🙂
Heavy and metal, film, scratches and dents in the pro-black. Heavy, yeah, but solid to the heft. I also like the attitude: max 36 clicks to the roll, you had to plan and think. Such good friends who shared and created great memories on the street … and still do today.
Time standing-down a bit, I hope to get the darkroom cleared and spend some time in the room where dim light is yellow, and where strange and wonderful things happen.
So, brief thoughts about these steeples and, thus, churches. You’ll notice I’ve not named or identified specific churches I use as source for these pieces. This owes to several reasons, mainly two:
First, I’m not wanting to endorse any specific denomination. My interest in painting these is out of appreciation of the beauty of churches in general, and steeples specifically. I can equally enjoy and be faith-inspired by a grand cathedral as-well-as a prosaic country church … and most in-between.
Secondly, I think that by identifying a locale/city, it focuses, again, on a non-issue. 🙂 It’s the beauty/creativity – the spirituality these architectural looking-upwards promote/exhibit that intrigue and inspire me.
Hopefully, without locale and denominational tie-downs, more can enjoy and be inspired by these images.
Part of the successful solution on this piece was to create interest with the siding, which includes both horizontal and vertical. Together, they really show light source and architectural shape. I worked the shadows and eve shadows well I think – really happy with the depth. I also really like the slight golden glow on the facade.
Simple as it seems, and looks, the background is always a big set of decisions. In this case, I’ve kept the sky/bkgnd simple and a bit vague. I did, however, work to create a nondescript-yet-suggested transition of sky-to-trees.
Here’s the detail. It was a bit of a trick to define the bell tower vents. To set them apart from the siding laps, I gave the shadows a slightly darker tint: after all, they are not shadows … rather, they are openings into the steeple to allow for bell sound to travel. I also created the opening slats at a slightly different pace/setting (given they are not siding laps).
Beginning a new piece! Actually, began it couple weeks ago, but am late to the blog … gotta get better discipline (and keep life at bay)! 🙂
This one is based upon a church I saw that has, in addition to the top steeple cross, 4 smaller crosses, one at each corner at the base of the steeple proper. Of course, I understand how 4 works into the archetectural equation, but my painting will show 3 … which works better for me, spiritually, than 4. The model church looks quite dignified, I really like the basic looks.
Here’s the initial sketch. Of course, I’m using the letterpress text sheets I printed, I think that is working well as secondary basic format. Don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, I printed on Rives BFK paper: I love this paper, have used it for printing, drawing, painting for years. It’s a mould made paper from France. I think it’s 280 # and is very smooth, soft to touch, and is 100% cotton. Pricey, but I love it!
And done with the first of the Steeple Project pieces!
It’s taken a while … concept, writing, letterpress, sketch, and painting … but I’m happy with the idea in general and this first piece specifically. I’m glad I spent some dedicated time on the text. The spiritual-side is critical for me. The architectural, social/historical, and even the artistic elements are, for me, enhanced and united within the spiritual in this series. I need that perspective, it’s a big part of this project for me.
As I’ve mentioned, I feel best, even blessed, beginning with a detailed sketch.
(Gad, I need to work on better photos … )
I guess part of the danger is an overly structured painting, but the intent is to move beyond the sketch, let the paint flow a bit … paint outside the lines as inspired. Perhaps I need to develop a looser initial approach … but I feel I get looser as I proceed, and don’t really feel confined by the sketch, rather, guided … it all works out in the end … ( … theory … ) :]
Ok, last image was of the plate up in the chase/press. For those/any interested, my press is a very old Kelsey 5×8″ tabletop. I love the rattle-and-clank … a lot of noise and action, very, very analog ….
Print quality: My original intent was to print so lightly that the text would be obfuscated (takes me back to Click and Clack, the tappet brothers) … barely legible, thinking it is actually background information, visual information. As it printed, it was darker gray than I intended, but decided to let it go as it was also printing unevenly … which didn’t bother me much as that also served to render the image/text fuzzy, secondary to the painting to come. I think I’ll go with it as-is for a few paintings, see how I like it after a some are complete …
Later: here’s a sample of the prints … I like it very much!!
(sorry, crummy photo …)
For those curious, here’s the text in full:
A steeple consists of a tower crowned by a spire. At its simplest, it provides a structure and a roof. In its more profound function, it is a civic and spiritual focal point, serving as a component of both visual and audio communication. At times, it exists as an inspiring spiritual symbol. Architecturally, and from a distance, a steeple might offer the location of a church or meeting hall. It may also house a bell which could ring a tune, provide a village with the time of day, or a rally cry in times of an emergency. For the Christian, steeples serve as a reminder to look upwards in hope, reverence, and in anticipation. Structurally, the steeple may serve as a “mount” for a cross and, as a whole, a symbol of victorious faith. As noted, the steeple often serves as home for a bell – here used to call the faithful to prayer and worship. From a relatively low perspective, looking up towards a steeple’s cross suggests a needed and freeing humility, offering an upward reach to Heaven – the human counterpart to God’s outstretched hand. The steeple brings a sense of need for closeness to God – an architectural mountain top. As faith-based prayers are sent up, the steeple points the way: True North on a spiritual compass rose.
Clearly, in addition to zig-zagging thru efforts for art, life occurs as well. It’s been a few busy life-stuff days … hence the post gap. But now, a milestone art event: the beginning of a new project! My intention is to have this as an ongoing project, probably interspersed with other work … (remember that word I’m looking for?)
I tend to lean towards art that has (for me), not only visual interest, but also a spiritual side to it. This side can range from very subtle, implied-but-not obvious … to blatantly and joyously declared. I was taught years ago that great, or at least art that can be related-to, will contain at least one of three aspects … and the very best or most relatable and meaningful art, has all three. More on that perhaps in a later post …
At any rate, the Steeple Project. I, as many of you no doubt do, admire much in architecture. One aspect I find interesting is the variety of church steeple design: some very simple, some complex and excessively adorned – I prefer the simple :), but appreciate the design and purpose of all . I mentioned earlier that I have a little, ancient letterpress. My intent is to use that media in conjunction with my watercolor effort. I had, awhile back, designed some background text to be used on the project, this text to be converted to a printing plate for my press. Well, the plate arrived, added to the chase, and mounted in my little press … ink ready!
(side note: oh my gosh … all of a sudden, the foot symbol has given away to appropriate apostrophes …. no idea how that happened … but, love it, thank God! If you care, see blog note Aug 13 for my typographic winning ….)
