This lighthouse is built against the Vauban military fort of the same name and aligned with the Portzic lighthouse. It is 26 meters high, reaching 34 meters above sea level, and stands on a giant rock jutting out into the waves. Its main role was to ensure entry to the port of Brest, and for this reason, the French Navy requested its construction in 1839. The lighthouse is built in cut stone extracted from the Aber-Ildut quarry, under the supervision of Louis Plantier, an engineer who participated in the installation of about fifteen lighthouses in Brittany.
My painting reproduces a photo that takes the lighthouse from a very low angle, capturing the moment of sunset inside the arch of the stone bridge.
I chose to do it entirely with the spatula and I discovered how important it is for this tool to be flexible and of the right size to enhance each detail. The effect of the spatula is important, especially in the modeling of bodies and masses such as rock and stone.
I chose a canvas that developed the painting horizontally and in large dimensions, which required much more time and work, with particular attention to capturing and replicating the colors in their right temperature.
I also loaded the lighthouse light with color, more than it is in reality, because I like to highlight the importance of its function in navigation and in life.
TITLE:
Phare du Petit Minou
SUPPORT:
Cotton canvas on frame
SIZE:
50 x 110 cm
TECHNIQUE:
Oil on canvas
DATE:
July 2022
SERIAL N.:
20220701
NOTES:
Made with a spatula and finished with a brush
