Nebulae Series. Birthplace of the stars. Butterfly Nebula, Eagle Nebula, Canissa Nebula and Carina Nebula: mixed media, watercolor art by Jo Pomeroy-Crockett
And, too, Drama in Art lecture notes by
Jo Pomeroy-Crockett, Ph.D., writer/artist
@ the Fairweather House and Gallery
Drama in art comes from the subject matter and the emotion that the artist conveys. While a memorable scene may be rendered in a technically competent way, the drama is lessened if the artist does not imbue it with emotion. If a painting touches a viewer deeply, chances are that the artist put heart and soul into the painting.
Nature is filled with drama. Take, for example, the universe — that immense, mysterious entity that is almost beyond understanding. It is filled with empty space (1 atom per cubic centimeter compared with earth at 30 quillion molecules per cubic centimeter) as well as with solar systems, black holes, stars, nebulae, and more.
Nebulae, Latin for “cloud”, are billowing masses of dust and gases which are birth places for stars. Many are visible as either a bright patch or as a dark silhouette against starlight. Humans have seen nebulae probably forever, but the earliest written records go back Ptolemy in 150 CE and later to Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi in 964 CE. The Crab nebula was observed in 1054 by astronomers in Europe, Asia, and China. Since then, more nebulae have been identified. At this time, some 2500 have been recorded.
The Hubble project has photographed numerous nebulae. They are colorful, dramatic clouds which can be as close as 50 light years away to over 600 light years away. Dust and gases cause the bright colors. Some famous nebulae are the Rosette, Pelican, Crab, Orion, Cat’s Eye, Horsehead, Butterfly, Carina Tarantula, Fox Fur, and more.
Nebulae have fascinated me for years. My favorite is the Eagle with its huge vibrant clouds and dark mysterious corners. Astronomers have speculated that the Eagle may have exploded and disappeared but we will not know for sure for 600 light years. Portraying nebulae in watercolor and acrylic has become a passion for me. —Jo Pomeroy-Crockett
Nebula exhibition through October 31st @ Fairweather’s.
For more information about the artist please visit http://www.fairweatherhouseandgallery.com/artists/Jo Pomeroy-Crockett
Fun Fact:
Jo Pomeroy-Crockett is co-founder of the Astoria Art Loft. For more information please visit http://www.astoriaartloft.com/
