Parrish Blue

Now this is a Maxfield Parrish view at sunset if I ever saw one...


I was heading toward the lake shore yesterday evening (as I often do) and snapped this shot of the pond just northeast of Regenstein. It was one of those evenings when the fading light is rich and yet transparent in just such a way that it makes me feel as though I've been transported into one of Parrish's etherial and idyllic paintings. I found this one online that illustrates my point quite well...

Maxfield Parrish was a painter and illustrator most active during the first part of the 20th century and I fell in love with his work while completing my third year at the University of Utah. My first boyfriend had just broken up with me and at some point I moped my way over to the library to search for something that might distract me from the sorrows of a first love lost. I found a book about Parrish while browsing through the art section and was immediately entranced by the vivid hues and magical sort of crystalline light that warmed the scenes he depicted. His elegantly beautiful human subjects appeared serene and quietly exultant in their fantastical worlds and I found the balance and stillness inherent in the line and composition of each creation utterly mesmerizing.

He is known for what has become an iconic use of cobalt blue and consequently the distinctive color is often referred to as "Parrish blue". Of this, "Stars" (one of my favorite illustrations) is a perfect example...

Now, I don't often stargaze in the nude...well actually...I have to admit I've never indulged myself in this way (unfortunately perhaps). Still, I can't help but be drawn in to inhabit the soul of this character as she muses in innocent and hopeful wonder underneath a slowly darkening sky. It hadn't occurred to me until just now that perhaps my propensity for depicting female nudes may very well be influenced by Parrish. Hmmm...