Camille is one of California's most respected Plein Air artists.
see the Camille Przewodek paintings in the July 2010 exhibit: click here
Artist Statement
Lineage of Impressionism: In 1980, Henry Hensche [1901-1992] “opened my eyes” by introducing me to Monet’s impressionist tradition of seeing and painting color with the influence of light. Hensche, who had assisted famed American Impressionist Charles Hawthorne [1872-1930] at the Cape School of Art since 1930, changed the way I perceived shadows, which were no longer dark shapes but were filled with color. I also learned that conveying the shape of objects was accomplished through the interaction of colors. And as the colors changed, so did the form. Hensche changed forever the way in which I see color, helping me understand the fundamental principles of impressionism.
"Meadow at Sunset" by Camille Przewodek
The Effect of Light on Color: Impressionsim, which has come to mean “the effect of light on color,” demands that the artist pay conscious, careful attention to what she sees and how she sees it. Like playing scales on the piano, practice is critical to understanding and expressing both how light creates color and how color notes convey light. I struggle against formulas and try to keep a fresh eye when exploring the color of each scene. That’s why I continually do outdoor studies, and why I stop work on a painting when the light changes, returning to it only when the weather and light conditions are the same.
Approach: I begin by quickly putting down color notes in an abstract series of shapes. Using a palette knife or a brush, I mix the colors directly on the painting surface and study their relationships to one another. I move from big masses of color to smaller spots, refining forms and shapes through values (light and dark) as I go along.
