BY LESLIE REGO
Blue was the predominant color surrounding me. There was larkspur, showy penstemon, an abundance of Lewis wild flax and also garden flax. There was a clear sky. Blue was the color of the day.
Garden flax, introduced from Europe, is a royal blue. Lewis wild flax, a lighter blue, is native to this area. “Lewis” honors the explorer Captain Meriwether Lewis. Flax has been an important source of fiber and oil for many years, even dating back to prehistoric times. Flaxseed when pressed releases an oil called linseed. This oil is important to painters and string instrument makers. The stems of the flax plant are very thin, but strong. Historically, they were used to make fishing line, thread, and baskets.
As I gazed at the slim flax stems, topped with the brilliant blue color, I was reminded of an interesting story about line verses color. Michelangelo, the 15th-century painter, went to Rome to see the latest work made by his rival, Titian. Later, a friend asked Michelangelo, “Did you like the painting?” Cryptically, Michelangelo answered, “Nice colors, but I do wish the Venetians were better at drawing.”
Disegno (drawing) verses colorist (color) was a major topic of debate in art during the 15th and 16th century. The beauty of line required years of patient study of nature and anatomy. Composition was an important component of truly understanding the use of line. Colorito was a more free-form approach where layers of color would be built directly upon the canvas. So which was preferable? Lines first and then layer color or start with an expressive use of color to work out the shapes and the values and then add lines to fill in the details?
Much later it was realized that the left brain likes lines or a more analytical approach and the right brain is more chaotic and spontaneous. So which is better? It is impossible to say. Perhaps a bit of both, in whatever order you prefer.
During this hike the wild flax presented me with the slim lines of the stems waving in the breeze and also the brilliant blue color of the bloom. Am I a disegno or a colorito? I would say a bit of both!
Leslie Rego is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, artist and Blaine County resident. To view more of Rego’s art, visit leslierego.com.