In the latter part of Summer why not take a moment to reflect on the bright sunshine that has warmed us, the lush hues of fields and trees, and making the most of the longer days and balmy evenings with friends and family.
The sunny season brings with it a sense of freedom and buoyancy which cannot fail to inspire, so it is little wonder then that Summer has long been a source of creative inspiration throughout art history.
There are a number of iconic masterpieces which are synonymous with summertime, not least David Hockney’s A Bigger Splash (1967) which perfectly portrays the spirit of a hot summer’s afternoon spent poolside, punctuated by a cooling spray of water.
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884-86) by Georges Seurat is another piece which, on the surface, captures the quintessence of the season - people flocking to the water’s edge as the bright sun illuminates the River Seine and highlights the verdant riverbank. However, the post-Impressionist painter has illustrated a formularised Parisian riverside scene: the stereotyped individuals from various walks of life each occupy their space in a static manner, disconnected from one another and their surroundings; some repose in their finery, others in casual vestements; and a couple of canine companions pepper the foreground…along with an implicitly ‘lascivious’ woman and her pet monkey!
This piece was notable as one of the first paintings to use an entirely Pointillist technique - whereby a painting is created by applying a series of coloured dots of paint to canvas. It marked the beginning of neo-impressionism, and was a reaction against the Impressionist ideals of naturalism and of artists depicting things ‘just as they saw it’. Although the technique was wildly different, the discernible depiction of clement summer days was also achieved by Impressionist painter Claude Monet in his piece La Grenouillère (1869) which Art Fervour describes as “featuring a bustling riverbank filled with people enjoying themselves on boats, in cafes and in the water. The play of light and shadow, loose and fluid brushwork, and vivid hues make it a classic impressionist artwork”.
Contemporary artists are inspired still by the season’s azure skies, and glowing yellow sunshine, creating pieces like Late Summer Trafalgar Square II fine art print by Jo Quigley - featuring the iconic landmark of Nelson’s Column on a crisp bright day as people bustle around the Lutyens-designed fountains, and London buses pass in the background. Jo has a particular passion for painting the UK’s capital and is fascinated by people going about their daily lives in an urban environment. Her striking compositions aim to draw the viewer in and explore her characters and speculate their stories.
From ‘hot in the city’ to ‘summer breeze’: Josie Appleby paints dazzling wildlife depictions, and her original painting Summer Breeze II gloriously illustrates a charm of goldfinches. Her style is loose and energetic, and the yellow, green, and blue palette suit the season perfectly - generating a piece filled with warmth, vitality, and joy.
Renowned sculptor Philip Jackson’s monumental piece The Last Ball of Summer is a breathtaking bronze sculpture which is at once elegant and overwhelmingly dramatic, and strikes an impressive figure amongst the dappled shade of a wooded summer garden.
Award-winning North Devon based artist Corinne Young beautifully captures the way the sun dances and sparkles on ripples around rocky open waters in her fine art print Solstice Swim. Her contemporary realism style contributes to generating an impressive body of work that looks inviting enough to dive into.
Head over to our online gallery to find more summer-inspired artwork: https://www.collierdobson.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&page=1&q=summer
