AIS BOARD MEMBERS/OFFICERS
Debra Joy Groesser AIS AIS CEO and President
I believe it's easier to define Impressionism by what it isn't rather than what it is. It isn't tightly rendered or photorealistic subjects and it isn't non- representational/abstract. However, there is a broad range in between the two that can be considered Impressionism. No matter how loosely rendered, subject matter in Impressionism is representational. For me, Impressionistic paintings most often portray light and the effects of light on the subject, expressing the light at a particular moment in time. Visible brushstrokes are nearly always present in Impressionistic paintings. Think of Monet's paintings of the haystacks or Rouen Cathedral in different times of day capturing different effects of light, and his vigorous brushwork. Think of the Hensche school, capturing light with vibrant color. Then there are the California Impressionists, again, with their masterful paintings of light filled subjects. There are the Russian Impressionists who are known for their thick juicy brushwork. What I hear over and over about our AIS exhibitions is that viewers love the variety in style and subject matter. In every one of our exhibitions, you can see the influence of all of these "schools" of Impressionism in the work displayed.
Cheryl St. John AIS AIS Vice President
Impressionism to me is a spontaneous interpretation of a scene using little detail and expressive brush strokes. The viewer is to use their imagination to determine what it represents or means to them...or “fill in the blanks.”
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