RSA Scottish Art
On Canna
 | Artist: Ian McKenzie Smith |
| Title: On Canna | |
| Year: c. 1988 | |
| Medium: oil on canvas | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: | |
| Source: RSA Diploma Collection | |
| View full screen image of this work | |
| Open print version of this work | |
| © the artist | |
| Description: Ian McKenzie Smith was influenced by the Danish, Dutch and Belgian artists of the mid-20th century COBRA Group and later became interested in Zen Buddhist philosophies. His work, although based on landscape and other forms, is broadly abstract.On Canna takes its title from a Hebridean island. The cool colours and simple shapes do not relate to things seen but rather represent ideas about contemplation. The minimal nature of the painting suggests the clarity of mind sought by followers of Buddhism. The delicacy of this tranquil image does not seek to represent religious imagery in the way that a crucifixion would, but rather to convey the feeling of this type of meditative spirituality. A simple explanation of this composition is that it illustrates, from the top down, sunshine, sea and land since the colours chosen relate to such an arrangement. But this painting is not simply a landscape. The landscape of the Western Isles has certainly influenced the artist, but the painting creates an effect of seeing landscape within a spiritual and psychological context. The painting appears simple and easy, almost accidental, but this apparent ease hides the fact that it took a great deal of time and effort to achieve this effect. Very thin, wet glazes of colour have been washed over the canvas, followed by more fully defined areas on top. Oil paint is not often used in such a transparent manner. This treatment leads to a filmy, misty effect which appears to be suffused with light. Have you ever tried to create an image which expresses how you feel about the world, rather than depicting how the world looks? What feeling would you try to inject into such a piece? | |
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