Sutton Courtenay, (Summer on the River or The Wharf) 1917

Here we have 'Sutton Courtenay, (Summer on the River or The Wharf)' by Sir John Lavery, made with oil on canvas. Look at how Lavery’s brushstrokes create a sense of dappled light across the water. It feels like a dance, doesn't it? Artmaking is very much like that, a rhythmic process of applying and adjusting, adding and subtracting. The texture of the paint is quite smooth, and Lavery builds up the image with thin, transparent layers of color. Note the way the reflections in the water are rendered with quick, fluid strokes, capturing the fleeting movement of light. See that little red shape in the boat? It's almost abstract, standing out against the muted greens and browns of the riverbank. That's a bold move. Lavery’s contemporary was someone like Monet, and you can see that influence in his attention to light and atmosphere. But Lavery also has a knack for capturing the mood of a leisurely afternoon. He reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation.