Re-capturing the Sublime

Contemporary artist Nick Vivian alludes to the days of the Sublime with his striking landscape art.

Magnificent

Vivian's determination not to use black in his images means that his works are more a kin to nature; only using colours which would be found in the natural world. Working with wet impasto allows Vivian to bring a fluidity to his images, blending colours and celebrating any imperfections of the paint. Working with opaque oil paint does however present an inherent set of challenges, which only make the images more unique. For example, there is a limited time frame for completing the image as the paint must remain wet in order for the image to be edited. Once the paint begins to dry, that brief window for experimentation and moulding wet paint into wet paint is shut. This does however make for more spontaneous images, formed during concentrated moments of artistic inspiration.

Warm Seas Summer Before Last

For me, some of Vivian's works are reminiscent of the old masters such as Turner and Monet, in their loose abstraction of natural elements.

Vivian's study of sunsets, cloud formations and the colours which make up these natural spectacles is particularly Turner-esque. Vivian however, differentiates himself with his immersive over-sized canvases and his brilliant use of of colour.

Wish You Were Here

When looking at Vivian's Impasto Forest series I am reminded of Monet's Waterlilies at Giverny. Both artists bring a wildness to the foliage surrounding the water, dappling the terrestrial green, blue and brown colour scheme with pops of pastel colouring; mimicking the light catching the water and the various flowers which adorn it. Both artists romanticise the wild simplicity of water and trees.

Spring Forest Morning Strolling in the New Forest

Water Lily Pond, 1899, Claude Monet

If you find Nick Vivian's work as striking as I do, then have a look at his website, which is filled with many more examples of his work- nickvivian.com

All images in this post are by the artist Nick Vivian, unless otherwise specified