DOI Heft:
Nr. 171 (May, 1911)
DOI Artikel:Laurvik, J. Nilsen: The Art Students' League Summer School
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43446#0252
Art Students League Summer School
LANDSCAPE
BY HENRY LEE MCFEE
scape painting. It must not be inferred from this,
however, that such successes are won by the abso-
lutely uninitiated in art. A goodly number of the
students who journey to Woodstock from all parts
of the country only do so after some preliminary
study in the regular city art schools, where they have
learned the rudiments.
Only those things which can best be acquired out
of doors are taught here, such as the envelopment
of an object in its natural atmosphere, the inter-
action of colors in light as well as in the shadows,
and the important fact that in nature no color exists
by itself, above all that the real subject matter of a
picture is not the objects in it but the all enveloping
atmosphere that determines its mood and color.
These are the vital elements of every landscape
painting worthy of mention, and it seems incredible
that nowhere in the world have these fundamental
principles been systematically taught before the
establishment of this out-of-door school at Wood-
stock. One has only to visit the two biannual
competitive exhibitions made up of the best work
of the season to realize the wide-reaching effect of
this wholesome influence upon our art of the future.
Their standard of excellence in the past two years
has been such as to challenge comparison with
current exhibitions of professional work.
It only remains to add that such generally un-
considered details as the proper framing and hang-
ing of a picture are here given due attention, and
that the main endeavor of its inspiring director is
to cultivate and foster the individuality of each stu-
dent, who is left free to choose his own medium,
whether it be oils, water colors, pastels or tempera.
In conclusion, I can do no better than to quote Mr.
Harrison’s own words, in which he says that: “No
rigid formula in regard to technique is enforced,
each selecting the style which best suits his or her
individual temperament, it being clearly recognized
that the whole essence of art is personality. The
desire is to develop a number of individual painters
and not to develop a ‘school’.” J. N. L.
LXIV
LANDSCAPE
BY HENRY LEE MCFEE
scape painting. It must not be inferred from this,
however, that such successes are won by the abso-
lutely uninitiated in art. A goodly number of the
students who journey to Woodstock from all parts
of the country only do so after some preliminary
study in the regular city art schools, where they have
learned the rudiments.
Only those things which can best be acquired out
of doors are taught here, such as the envelopment
of an object in its natural atmosphere, the inter-
action of colors in light as well as in the shadows,
and the important fact that in nature no color exists
by itself, above all that the real subject matter of a
picture is not the objects in it but the all enveloping
atmosphere that determines its mood and color.
These are the vital elements of every landscape
painting worthy of mention, and it seems incredible
that nowhere in the world have these fundamental
principles been systematically taught before the
establishment of this out-of-door school at Wood-
stock. One has only to visit the two biannual
competitive exhibitions made up of the best work
of the season to realize the wide-reaching effect of
this wholesome influence upon our art of the future.
Their standard of excellence in the past two years
has been such as to challenge comparison with
current exhibitions of professional work.
It only remains to add that such generally un-
considered details as the proper framing and hang-
ing of a picture are here given due attention, and
that the main endeavor of its inspiring director is
to cultivate and foster the individuality of each stu-
dent, who is left free to choose his own medium,
whether it be oils, water colors, pastels or tempera.
In conclusion, I can do no better than to quote Mr.
Harrison’s own words, in which he says that: “No
rigid formula in regard to technique is enforced,
each selecting the style which best suits his or her
individual temperament, it being clearly recognized
that the whole essence of art is personality. The
desire is to develop a number of individual painters
and not to develop a ‘school’.” J. N. L.
LXIV