Can artists paint light?

Looking at Art:

William Turner’s paintings were all about light. His luminous technique was often called “tinted Steam”. Caravaggio and Rembrandt also are known for their use of light in painting to accentuate the area of their work they want to emphasize. I recently went to the Ringling Museum of Art and looked at some of the paintings in their collection and as I struggle with the illusion of light in my own painting I was transfixed by the marvelous works on display.

Work in the Studio:

When I was creating sculpture, the only issue addressing light was how well the piece was lit when on display. With some sculptures, interesting cast shadows can enhance the work. However, the illusion of light was never a consideration while working in my clay studio. I have been told that in watercolor all of the drama is in the dark areas of the painting. In the piece seen here, my main concentration is on the way the glass blower’s face and what she is working on, are revealed while her body is concealed in the dark area. I hope I am making progress at using light to enhance a scene. Do you get a feeling of the drama in this painting?

The Glass Blower, Watercolor, 12” x 12”