By Brenna Wiegand
Alla Prima: A style of painting where, instead of building colors up with layers, the painting is done in one session while the paint is still wet. From the Italian word which literally means “at once.”
Are you ever in the midst of doing something you love to the point that you lose track of time and life’s other concerns? …Even whether or not you’ve eaten? You’re in “The Zone.”
It’s a phenomenon found in every arena, be it athletics; mountain climbing; hunting for antiques; even clearing a cluttered house! The feeling is addictive.
And it is what local artist Barbara Bassett is seeking, given again the time to devote to painting required to be blessed with those times of “flow.” Her new body of work, “Venturing Out” was on display at Lunaria Gallery in May.
For the last few years, Bassett’s energies have been funneled into moving and remodeling a home and garden and caring for ailing family members.
“Getting my painting skills back is what my soul is craving,” Bassett said, “…and my work has changed.”
Bassett has transitioned from precise realism in energetic cityscapes and people “doing things” to a dreamier sense of reflection and peace, showing itself in somewhat impressionistic nature scenes and abstracts. It is the artist’s means of healing and taking a breath; of renewal and making ready for what’s next.
“It’s more of creating a sense of place rather than just copying what you see,” she said. “These paintings are more grounded; they’re peaceful and more serene but also joyful. It’s not an exact place but a feeling of a place, either from memory or of where you want to go.”
This seemingly ethereal process takes practical preparation. It is necessary to slough off distractions. She must extricate herself from daily life and make her way to the studio for uninterrupted hours.
For Bassett, it can be a matter of steps. The garden she has created is replete with tumbling water, wind, birdsong and her farm animals. The further sights and scents of favorite plants and elements – like her purple-painted obelisk say “Take a breath; prepare to engage…”
That dedication results in an increase of time in “The Zone,” engendering a new confidence, bolder brush strokes and getting lost in the moment – the alla prima method spoken of among European artists.
“It’s living without a net,” Bassett said. “You have to do it quick; solve development issues at a moment’s notice. You are dealing with raw elements and once you’re working, you have to stay with it.”
No matter that she’s hanging her heart out for the world to see – and perhaps scrutinize. “You kind of have to paint what you’re experiencing for it to be authentic,” she said. “…And when it resonates with another, it becomes a conversation.”
