Sunday, December 10, 2023

December 9, 2023 — Elaine O.

Let's face it—we're in for a Paris series. So it's best to just sit back and ride it out. (Although, technically, this isn't Paris; it's Normandy.) This is a beautiful, compelling sculpture called Les Braves. It's a memorial marking the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach. I originally intended this as a study/test, but I'm surprisingly pleased with it—everything but the way the masking tape and fluid left the edges of the sculpture. And even then, I could salvage them. On the whole, this has the feel of my memory, so I'm happy.

Les Braves    13" x 10"

And now for the historical/factual comments, if you're still reading along. This is at the center of Omaha Beach, near the original memorial. It was installed for the 60th anniversary of D-Day and was originally meant to be temporary. But people liked it and it stayed. It has three groupings, each with a different theme and it looks different depending on where you stand.

If you want to see it without travelling to France, a twin was installed this year at the War Memorial in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. But if you do go to France, try to visit the Normandy beaches. Even if you don't know anyone who was there, it's a stirring and emotional experience.

6 comments:

  1. sjdDecember 10, 2023 at 9:39 AM

    It’s a beautiful painting. The color of the water against the pale sand is just wonderful. I get a real sense of movement both in the water and the way you’ve painted the monument and its reflection.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AlanDecember 10, 2023 at 1:46 PM

    It’s really hard to do those water meets the beach areas. Nice!

    ReplyDelete
  3. GreetaDecember 11, 2023 at 9:33 PM

    This is lively. So the sculpture stNds in water?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ekoDecember 12, 2023 at 7:39 AM

      At low tide, it's on the sand; at high tide, it's in the water. I saw (and painted) it about mid-tide and it was in the water already. That's another thing that makes this sculpture looks so different and alive all the time.

      Delete
  4. paoDecember 12, 2023 at 6:48 AM

    You've rendered it so majestically with its simplicity of elements. Breathtaking in its impact.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Uncle KenDecember 12, 2023 at 7:23 AM

    The memorial is fine but what wins my heart are those three shadows that traverse the water and continue on to sparkle on the sand.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)