Daniel Keys has wanted to paint thatched roofs for many years. During a recent trip to a charming village in the English countryside, he finally had the opportunity do so. He brought along his young artist friend Mark Baral, and the two spent each day walking its quaint streets and painting its cottages, church and landscape, while engaging with the local community.
The fruits of their labor are the subject of Journey to Wherwell,a joint exhibition on view at Sense of Place Gallery from October 17 through the end of the month.
Mark Baral, Cottage on the River Test, oil, 8 x 10 in.
“I’ve always been drawn to the charm of England and Europe, and particularly the visual charm and craftsmanship of thatched roofs,” says Keys. “Despite resembling something straight out of a fairy tale, the idea of taking reeds and crafting them into a durable and waterproof covering reminds us that something practical can also be visually appealing and organically shaped. In short, I think they’re beautiful, and I want to paint beauty.”
Keys, 40, met Baral, 28, many years ago through the Palette Project, a young artists workshop Keys leads annually through the Scottsdale Artist School. They’ve gone on numerous painting trips together in the United States since, and Keys had promised they’d go to England at some point.
Mark Baral, The Porch of St. Peter and Holy Cross, oil, 8 x 10 in.
Baral says, “On each of [our] trips, we became more acquainted and the student/teacher relationship has evolved into genuine friendship…Painting with Daniel always makes me a better painter…We have a tradition of coming back from each session and setting our paintings from the day on the mantle so we can watch the collection grow throughout the week. And when I see what he is able to do…it challenges me take my work to the next level. I start analyzing the way he sees and how he translates that into paint.”
Two works Keys completed in Wherwell are Dappled Light Cottage and Church Parish. “Each morning, we would set out to see what most beckoned to be painted, and I passed this cottage for several days admiring how the early light danced on its thatched roof,” says Keys. “It was a challenge to capture the ever-changing pattern of light and shadow, but once I settled on an overall design, the rest was just laying in color and brushwork.”
About Church Parish,Keys says, “I was particularly drawn to the tall and narrow cypress amidst the gravestones as well. The whole scene offered so many elements to create a good design, it was difficult to choose just one composition.” Keys is working on a larger studio version of the scene that will also be in the show.
Daniel Keys, Church Parish, oil, 10 x 8 in.
Among Baral’s featured work is Cottage on the River Test, a plein air painting executed on a walking path that connects Wherwell with a neighboring town. “I was standing…next to a grove of trees where a family had just recently finished picnicking,” Baral shares. “As I painted, more families came and played in the river, and as I was packing up, the cows that graze the common crossed the river. I am so glad I got to capture the feeling of that overcast day.”
The Porch of St. Peter and Holy Cross features the entryway to the local church with a few of the nearby headstones. “I loved the way the magenta shingles of the roof contrasted with the evening sky and sunlit tree behind it,” says Baral. “I wanted to invite viewers in to explore the potential stories both around the corner and perhaps even inside the building.”
Daniel Keys, Dappled Light Cottage, oil, 9 x 12 in.
Both artists say that a major highlight of the trip was the warm welcome of the Wherwell townspeople, and learning about the rich history of the village from the locals. It also seemed like everywhere they looked a painting was asking to be painted.
Keys adds, “Part of me was just pleased that after years of imagining and planning, I had finally done it. But more than that, feeling like you’ve produced work you can be proud of, because it reflects a place in a positive way, is most satisfying. I hope to look back on these works and be transported to the time, place, sights, friendships and feelings that filled the journey.”
A reception for Journey to Wherwell will be held on October 24 from noon to 3 p.m. —
A Sense of Place Gallery 2003 N. Van Ness Boulevard • Fresno, CA 93704 (559) 580-9616 • www.asenseofplacefineart.com
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