‘Pen Dinas, Golau Haf … Summer Light’

(Triptych – Polished gesso and acrylic – Each board approximately 4880 mm x  2440 mm)

The exhibition space was well lit during sunny periods, the sun pouring in through the skylights above.

Sunlight from the windows above moved around and across the paintings during the day.

The triptych represented three individual moments, as sunlight moved across a familiar landscape, the hillsides, towards the ancient hillfort of Pen Dinas, due south of Aberystwyth. The observations related to bright, blustery, days.

The different effects of sunlight could appear singly in specific areas or in pockets across the whole of the hilly landscape. All was controlled by the brightness of the sun, the angle of its inclination, the quantity and quality of cloud cover, the degree and strength of air movement moving the clouds around and the humidity levels of either (or both), the area in which the observer stood (the viewpoint), or in the hilly areas at their slightly higher altitudes.

Left Board

A steady spreading of yellows seeped out of the green here. Such an event was observed during periods of high humidity. High humidity affected the brightness of greens, flattening and dulling the overall effect.

Middle Board

Humidity levels could be unstable due to the physical make-up of the landscape and close proximity to the sea. On the middle board, a rolling, tumbling action across and down the hills and fields represented such days, exhibiting a wider range of greens which moved occasionally into the yellow spectrum.

Right Board

On very dry days, greens were more saturated and there was less separation of yellows, this was demonstrated in the choice of pigment mix. The speedy swipe mimiced fast movement across the landscape.

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This small piece of work exhibited alongside the triptych, provided an image of the original source of inspiration. Despite the beautiful finish of the polished gesso frame, the assessors would have preferred the image to have appeared without a frame.

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Following the Exhibition

An opportunity was afforded following the exhibition to photograph the triptych in its exhibition space, unhindered by other exhibition walls. This was the first time that they were seen as a complete triptych – not as viewed by visitors during the exhibition.