Light and Shadow
Light and Shadow
Original
imaginative artwork and poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025, as a nod to
the joys and challenges of painting light and shadow
Every photographer knows that to get good photos, you have to understand light
Light and shadow can be your biggest asset, creating magic if you get it right
Au plien air artists also struggle with creating realistic-looking shadows
I love creating imaginative paintings where light influences what I compose
But the master of shadows was undoubtedly *Eratosthenes*, a librarian by trade
At noon on the summer solstice on 240 BC, an object in Syene didn't cast shade
Meanwhile, north of Syene, at his library in Alexandria, the shadow was 7.2 degrees
As a librarian, he knew the distance between the two was 800 km; the rest was a breeze
Using simple geometry, he calculated the circumference to be between 35 and 40 thousand.
Modern advanced satellite-aided calculations proved it is 40,075 km - absolutely profound
Comments
1. One art a day started off a year ago when I had no idea what painting was all about. I only knew that my limited exposure to art in standard 7 was terrible (sounds familiar, right?)
2. But this time around I started with good materials (paper, paints and brushes - this is the #1 advice I have for anyone, don’t shortchange yourself using inferior materials)
3. I do it for fun, with no ambitions or lofty goals other than to have fun. I paint subjects that resonate with me (I’ve long been interested in nature, birding, history etc)
4. Lastly be consistent. Don’t get too high or too low. Within about 2 weeks, I discovered my own unique style of painting that came naturally
5. Practice makes perfect, so each day I start with a blank sheet of paper and try a new painting technique using a reference painting/photo that appeals to me. I however put my own interpretation on it. Copying something has never motivated me
6. I usually take about 20-30 minutes start to finish. The artwork is my prime focus and I love to inject movement
7. The poetry thing started much later and again once I got over my inhibitions I simply let the words flow. I do fact check my information but I knew for example about the amazing story of calculating the earth’s circumference using a shadow so the punchline of poem was a no brainer. That I had read 45 years ago, I had to look up the details. The meter and rhyming is my natural style.
8. I encourage everyone to look beyond their doubts, inhibitions etc and try any form of creative arts (writing, poetry, doodling, sketching, painting, sculpture, cross-stitch, embroidery … the list goes on) - you’ll find something that give you joy. Then there’s nothing stopping you.
Kieran