"L'étang aux cygnes" 

Behind the scene / Naturalistic view / Exhibitions and Awards / The Original / Fine Art Prints

This painting has a story. It was springtime. As the proud owner of a German Shorthaired Pointer named Tchuck, I had been invited to exhibit a few of my artworks during the World Championship of the breed, held near Reims. The weather was awful — cold, rainy, and windy. One strong gust of wind lifted the entire tent where I was supposed to display my work. I gave up the idea of exhibiting and used the free time to enjoy watching the dogs. Some looked exactly like Tchuck, others were more robust, but all the owners—some of whom had traveled great distances—were proud to show off their dogs’ qualities.

The next morning, the dogs were set to compete in field trials. At dawn, we gathered in the countryside. A light mist hovered above the pond, slowly warmed by the rising sun. Around the water, lush green vegetation was reflected on the surface, partially covered with duckweed. That’s when I spotted a pair of swans peacefully gliding across the greenish expanse. It seemed clear they had chosen this tranquil place to nest. But disturbed by the noise and movement of the dogs and handlers, they quickly disappeared from view.

I managed to take just one single photograph. That image stayed with me, quietly waiting. Months later, I decided to paint the scene. It took nearly a year of work to capture the full range of greens on canvas. I had chosen to work with a very limited palette, so I had to explore all its subtleties—playing with white and black to create an endless variety of tones.

A year after completing the painting, I submitted it—along with four others—to the selection jury of the Society of Animal Artists in New York. Not only was I accepted as a member, but the painting was also selected to be part of their prestigious annual exhibition, “Art and the Animal.”

— Laurence Saunois