Rembrandt Remastered

By Iola Goulton

In the last school holidays, I took the children (well, teenagers) to the nearby city of Rotorua to visit the Rembrandt Remastered exhibition currently on display at the Rotorua Museum (thanks, Jebraun Clifford, for the Instagram posts which alerted me to this exhibition!).

My daughter loves art, so she was keen to see the exhibition. We forced my son to come, mostly so he wouldn’t spend the entire day playing Minecraft (instead, he spent the day chasing and catching Pokemon. Go figure).

Anyway, the exhibition was fascinating. It wasn’t actual Rembrandt paintings—which are worth a fortune—but life-sized photographs. They ranged in size from several small self-portraits smaller than a standard A4 (or US Letter) sheet of paper to The Night Watch, restored to which is 388 cm by 504 cm (approximately thirteen feet tall and sixteen feet wide).

The restored full-size version  of Militia Company of District II under the Command of Captain Frans Bannick Cocq, better known as The Night Watch. The original was trimmed on all four sides in 1715, presumably to better fit in its new home in the Amsterdam Town Hall.

Each picture has been digitally remastered in an attempt to illustrate what they looked like when Rembrandt finished them, rather than covered with centuries of grime—or worse. Several of the original paintings no longer look like they did in Rembrandt's day. Some paintings have been altered in size. A couple have been vandalised by knives, and one was the victim of an acid attack. Two more of the pictures were stolen in 1990, and their current whereabouts is unknown.

The Before and After. Although even this doesn't do it justice.

You might think that the fact the pictures are “only” photographs would take away some of the skill and grandeur.

It didn’t.

We could still see the brushstrokes in the photographs. We could still see the holes in the lace collar of Rembrandt’s frame maker, the sinews in the arm of the corpse in The Anatomy Lesson, every hair in St Paul’s beard. Detail so precise it looks like a photograph. Really. How can anyone paint with that level of detail? (No, I am no artist.)

Much more disturbing in full size, where you can actually see the grey of the corpse.

Also, notice how the collars of the gentlemen get darker grey the further they are back in the painting? Rembrand pioneered this technique. It takes into account atmospheric perspective, which is what gives that blue tint to green hills as seen from a distance. In Rembrandt's time, they called this 'thickness of the air', and he used it to give the impression of spatial distance.

And we could get close enough to see. 

While no one would dare touch the pictures, there were no guards. No ropes. Nothing to stop us getting as close as we wanted. And the exhibition was relatively empty, despite it being a fine day in the middle of the school holidays. There was no one to get in our way as we took as many photos as we wanted.

The colours were amazing, especially the sea in Christ in the storm on the Lake of Galilee (which also seemed a lot more stormy than the storm rendered in my imagination as I read the relevant passage in the Bible). The notes beside the pictures explained some of the techniques Rembrandt pioneered, such as the way he used light and shadow to give his paintings depth. Simply brilliant.

They also showed how x-rays had revealed pictures under the paintings, and how some of the paintings have been cut down over time. For example, the version of The Night Watch we saw (which took a whole wall) was a couple of feet taller and wider than the “real” version currently on display at the Rijksmuseum (although the copy on display at London’s National Gallery is of the full-size original).

I found the whole exhibition fascinating, both the paintings and the expertise behind them. It reminds me there is always more than what we see on the surface, and that there is a story behind everything.

I enjoy looking for those stories. Do you?

Thanks to www.RembrandtRemastered.co for the photographs I've used in this blog post. Because the pictures I took looked more like the dingy originals than the remastered versions. And even these pictures are dingy in comparison to the full-size versions.

About Iola Goulton

I am a freelance editor specialising in Christian fiction. Visit my website at www.christianediting.co.nz to download a comprehensive list of publishers of Christian fiction. 

I also write contemporary Christian romance with a Kiwi twist—find out more atwww.iolagoulton.com.

You can also find me on:
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Those Who Can . . .

Good morning, Alice Valdal here.

  I just purchased another book on writing and that prompted me to examine my library.  I am the proud owner of twelve "how to" books on writing, and that doesn't count the books on grammar and style, or the sheaves of notes from workshops.
   Some books, such as Alice Orr's No More Rejections, and Alicia Rasley's The Character Interviews, and Laurie Schnebly's Believable Characters: Creating with Enneagrams I purchased at the end of a workshop.  All of these women are brilliant.  Listening to them discuss the art and craft of writing left me inspired and itching to get at my hands on a keyboard, my next -- and best selling novel -- would be born in just a few months, now that I'd learned "the secret."
   Other books I bought on recommendations from other writers.  The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them), by Jack Bickham was promoted by a fellow writer who claimed it had changed her writing and turned her from a "wannabe" into a contracted author.
    Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass was another recommended purchase.  And what writer worth her salt wouldn't want to learn from Donald Maass, even his recorded lectures inspire.  He makes it sound so straightforward and logical.  Get the right characters into the right kind of trouble, add a ticking clock and the possibility of a sequel and the writer needs an accountant to handle all the money she's bound to make.
     How to Write Best Selling Fiction by Dean Koontz, The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler, Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon and Creating Characters by Dwight V. Swain, I bought from a fellow writer who had given up finding a market for her books.  Some of the information in these books is dated, particularly when it comes to marketing, but the basic lessons on character, plot, structure and emotional impact are timeless.
    All the books mentioned above fall into what I would call craft.  I also have three volumes on what I call the art of being a writer, Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott,  The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, and my latest purchase, Seven Steps on the Writer's Path, by Nancy Pickard and Lynn Lott.
    As I'm more of a pantser than a plotter, I turn to these latter books with a sense of relief.  Much as I love and use the craft books, much as they have to teach me, I sometimes feel they put me in a box that's too small and then push down on the lid.  But there is danger in the other books as well.  Julia Cameron wants me to go on "artist's dates" with myself.  I embrace the concept and can put off actually putting pen to paper for weeks, while I fill my soul with trips to the art gallery, the gardens, the beach, the lavender farm . . .  You get the picture.
    Ann Lamott encourages me to read and read and read.  Great advice and I'm happy to curl up on the couch or stretch out at the beach with a bag of books for company.  But at some point anyone who wants to be an author need's to put down her favourite reads, and actually write something of her own.
    Owning this wealth of advice and encouragement reminds me of the old saw "if you're so smart, why ain't you rich?"  Or, to put it in writer's parlance, "if you know so much, why aren't you a best selling author?"
     The answer is, of course, that there is no secret, no magical formula, no step-by-step process that will propel the hopeful author to stardom.  Writing fiction is both art and craft, each author brings his or her own life experiences, belief system, skill and dedication to the work.  Each writer is unique, and we create our own unique works.  Sometimes those stories resonate with millions of readers, other times they resonate only with the author.  Each of us must decide our own writing goals, our own process and our own vision.  
     I'm delighted with all my "how-to" books and I'm grateful to the authors who have generously shared their wisdom and their experience.  I salute authors everywhere who have slogged through the hard stuff and found success in the publishing world and I congratulate those who follow their writing dreams without the world's recognition.  
    Books enrich our lives, mirror our times, leave footprints in history and brighten the lives of millions and millions of readers.  
    So, what's your favourite "how-to" book?  Do you prefer books on the craft of writing or the philosophy of being a writer? Is there one missing from my library that I absolutely must have? :-)

Alice Valdal is the author of two historical romance novels, one contemporary romance novel and a collection of short Christmas stories.  She is a member of Vancouver Island Chapter of Romance Writer's of America and an avid collector of books on the art and science or writing.

Writing Makes Me Happy

The subject of my post may sound like something from a cheesy pop song, but it is very serious because there are times when, as an author, it is tempting to throw your hands in the air and say: "Why bother?".

After all, writing can be a thankless task. We spend vast tracts of time plotting, planning, outlining, drafting, and editing. At the end of all of this, you have a product that may or may not pass muster with the ultimate judge of the quality of your work: the readers.

I've been writing for a while now and have wanted to give up more times than I can remember. In the past, it normally happened after my nth rejection slip. I would add it to the pile and declare: "I give up. This is a waste of time." A few weeks later, I'd be back at the keyboard.

The thing with writing is: anyone can do it. The old saying about chimpanzees and Shakespeare has a germ of truth to it. A chimp banging away at a keyboard is, to some extent, writing. It may not be prose, but he is applying keyboard characters to a screen which, according to Merriam-Webster is one of the definition of the verb "write": "to form (as characters or symbols) on a surface with an instrument (as a pen)". Writing is considered an art and, just as modern art has shown that an unmade bed or pile of rubbish is considered by some people to be a valid contribution to artistic expression. I can't help wondering if a day will come when someone will produce and sell a book written by chimpanzees. I'm sure someone would buy it to place alongside their "scattered rubbish" and "unmade bed" pieces.

But this is part of the joy of writing. Just the other day I passed a gentleman standing in a field by the side of the road. He had his bicycle parked and his easel erected. Wearing a floppy hat to shade his eyes from the sun, he bent forward, squinting, paint brush in hand, and dabbed at his interpretation of the landscape before him. Even from a fair distance, I could see that his representation was nothing to write home about. It was no unmade bed, but neither was it a Rembrandt. That did not matter because, even from twenty yards away, I could see that he was happy.

Every time I give up writing, I am forced to reexamine my motivations. I originally started out because I wanted to do something for God. The word "calling" is probably too strong here (and loaded with all sorts of spiritual baggage) so I think it is better to say that God allowed me to pursue my interest in writing. Maybe that still counts as a calling, I don't know, but I get to do something I want to do and I have permission to do it.

This morning while preparing for work I chatted with my wife about the day ahead. I'm between edits at the moment so have a couple of weeks to spare. I discussed my latest project as well as some ideas for marketing for my next book (due for release some day soon). My wife commented that I am always much happier when I'm busy with my writing.

I never really looked at it that way before, but she is right. I find it hard work and have to push myself sometimes, but it engages my mind and gives me something to work towards. A passing reader may scoff and say I'm no artist. Indeed, some may compare my efforts to an unmade bed. But there is something about building a world that never existed until you imagined into being--of breathing life into characters who will one day become actors in a drama of your making--that is extremely rewarding. It may be hard work, and not everyone will appreciate it, but it is yours and nobody can take that away from you.     

In short: writing makes me happy.

Great Artists Are Selfish

Great artists are selfish. Or so it would appear. Whether it is a visual artist, writer,musician, composer, singer, actor or movie star, one theme seems to pop up time and again. That theme is sacrifice. The artist is prepared to sacrifice anything or anyone for the sake of their art.

I’m not a huge fan of historical novels but I do like to read about artists, so with that in mind I picked up Claude and Camille, a book about the famous artist Claude Monet. You can find my thoughts about this book and others on Good Reads. What struck me most in reading this though was the selfishness of the artist. Everything else including those he loved was sacrificed to his art. This quote from J.K. Rowling about choices perhaps sums it up. ‘It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.'

If it came to a choice between pursing your art or maintaining relationships which would you choose? I have to say that if it came to a choice between writing which I love doing or my husband and family, there would be no contest. Husband and family would win out. Fortunately I don't have to make that choice as I have a husband and family who support and encourage my writing.

It seems to me that in many cases the art, whatever it may be, takes precedence over relationships and I think that is sad. Is that what God intended for us as writers? I don't think so. Sure, we need to carve out time to fulfil our calling to write and writing takes a lot of hard work. And it's not just the writing. These days to get your work out there and be known takes a lot of time in promotion and marketing. So should we invest all our energies into protecting our writing at all costs and just expect family and others around us will understand and make allowances because we are writers and our art must come first? What do you think?

That, to me, seems to contradict the way our Lord would have us live. As Albert Einstein said, 'Only a life lived for others is worthwhile.'

Yes, we are to do our best in the work He has called us to do but I doubt that means a sacrificing relationships to do it. At the end of people's lives it is often not that they wish had earned more money or written more books but that they had devoted more time to maintaining relationships. I may never be great in the world's eyes and that's okay, so long as at the end I hear God say, 'well done good and faithful servant' and know that I have cared for those God surrounded me with as well as doing the work He called me to.

Dale's latest novel is Streets on a Map published by Ark House Press. She has also had published a book of poetry, several children's novels, and has written a series of bible studies and Sunday school material. Her website is www.daleharcombe.com or you can visit her personal blog http://orangedale.livejournal.com/