The Light of Life Through an Animal’s Eyes
It’s the truth: life would not exist without light. From the greatest to the smallest, light is essential for most living creatures on Earth to survive. Consequently, many animals and even plants respond to light like humans do. Masterful art tells this compelling story in a single image.
Robin Campbell is a local Outer Banks master artist. She enjoys painting the fascinating real interactions between light and animals. “I’ve spent decades painting wildlife with a focus on bird portraiture presented as up close and personal rather than in a big picture setting,” she says. “I greeted light with a beginner’s mind, with curiosity and innocence, allowing my imagination to be led.”
Let’s explore Robin’s discovery of light through the eyes of nature.
Our first stop in Robin’s imagination tour is a place that catches the watchful eye of a lone egret. Soft sunset glow melts into the shimmering waters and the bird’s downy sheen. The art’s tall shape is ideal for hallways, offices, or anywhere that might be difficult for hanging wider pieces.
Clever word play reveals the theme behind this imaginative painting. A frog comes into view through the curious green fog, confident and secure from its prickly pear cactus perch. A weathered wood frame adds a further nod to the Outer Banks and assimilates the feel of strolling through a wooded walkway or dock taking in nature.
A little bit of rain doesn’t stop this hard worker! Grateful to see sunshine, the bird wastes no time picking up where it left off. Robin shares her experience painting with light. “Instead of looking for specific subjects to paint, I focused on light itself, what it revealed as well as what it hid as it edged early into or late out of a day, how it shone just before and just after a storm, and what stunning impacts light straining through fog made,” she says.
Not much different from what a human would do, a lone brown pelican takes a self care moment to bask in the Outer Banks sun’s golden hour. It’s not exactly in a hurry, either! Does it like the warmth, the view, or maybe both? Who knows if this peli-can tell you its thoughts.
The dazzling twilight doesn’t last long, but it’s a glorious part of the day. So too are the light and shadows casting forth. “I discovered many live surprises hidden in shadow that were suddenly revealed for a few splendid, fleeting moments as shafts of light attached themselves so perfectly before edging on to claim the next best kept secret,” says Robin.
The Miracle of Light
Cliché or not, it’s hard to deny the wonder of light. Seaside Art Gallery is currently exhibiting Robin’s work at The Modern Masters Event: The Edge of Light art show. “My works in this show’s collection reflect my impressions of a few of my favorite encounters during this latest field study adventure,” says Robin. “My hope is that the images will add a bit of light to the light we all share.”
Chelsea Reed is a copywriter who writes winning content, articles, blogs, and websites from her base in North Carolina. She might not be building sandcastles or swashbuckling with pirates these days, but the Outer Banks beaches continue to keep her young at heart.
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