Sharing the Light
Kassie Sprague Tayor"My chief interest is light. There are two major lights, or shall we say, two major directions of light. Coming and going. the coming light is the light that is seen as one faces the sun. The going light is the light visualized with one's back to the sun. A side light is also evident. This is the light effect achieved by standing with the sun either to the left of oneself or to the right."
Al Sprague, Artist's Journal, April 16, 1959
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La Bella, 2023
Light has always been a major part of Dad's paintings. He credits his studies at American University for developing him into the artist that he became. When interviewing him for our book, Al Sprague: His Life and Work, he said, "The professors taught me how to use my paint. If I had not gone to American University, my style and technique would never have evolved."
La Bella is an example of Dad's later work. I feel so lucky to have examples from multiple phases of his career. Each has its own personality and characteristics that represent the evolvement of Dad's style and technique. Painted in 2023, La Bella consists of the layering of brighter color. The dancer appears to be floating with an angelic glow surrounding her as her dress catches the light of the oncoming sun.
In 1959, Dad recognized that light was important to his artwork and defined the different ways in which light affects the subject in which he paints. Throughout his years of painting, light continued to be an important aspect in almost every painting he completed. It is this characteristic that brings us into his work. We can feel the warmth of the sunlight when looking at the painting itself.
La Bella is a perfect painting to complete my collection. It is the last painting I acquired and it brings me such joy every day. Thank you Dad for sharing your love for Panama in so many different ways.