St Ives

John Anthony Park made a name for himself through his passionate means of observing and recording the colours and textures of the natural landscape which surrounded him in St Ives. Park is most notably recognised for his impressionistic manner of handling colour and light, created by techniques he mastered in Paris upon observing the works of French Impressionists. This influence is seen to have had a lasting impact on his colour palette, handling of paint and ability to capture light. The expert manner by which he closely captured the sensation of authentic lighting and atmosphere can largely be attributed to employing the practice of painting en plein-air, in which he was able to immerse himself fully in the environment he was painting. Park's works, such as St. Ives, are characterised by their immersive and captivating light, constructed with the impressionist method of building composition through small broken brushstrokes and contrasting colours. Keen on capturing the ephemeral sensation of shade combined with the movement of the waves, Park's self-described approach to creating consisted of a precise drawing of the world he observed overlaid with “a little of myself.”