RF Cookbook – Arthur Rainville: Time Traveler

Arthur Rainville, a 40-year veteran of photography, works out of his studio in historic Whitinsville, MA. According to his website, Arthur is “known for his soft, muted, granular color work” that is “much like impressionism, a plurality of looks.” He has taught portraiture on three continents and is a prolific author.

“Time Traveler” is one of Arthur’s impressionist portraits. He says it was created with the mantra of the late painter Francis Bacon in mind: “The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” Arthur continues, “I find myself in the position of alchemist more than recorder. Mystery dwells within us all. It is what truly lies at the soul-core of my subjects.

“Believing that every portrait I create is, in part, a self-portrait, I set out to make this image of my brother, Kip. Through a strong sense of ‘process,’ I attend to what I call the five ‘atelier,’ [French for artist’s studio or workshop] method.”

Arthur elaborates, “The first atelier is technique. Utilizing one Lowel iLight continuous video light source, I allowed Kip to move into and through the light, while watching shadows play across his body, illuminating his facial intensity. Timing dictates placement.

“The second atelier is aesthetic. There is much intrigue hidden within the joyful exterior persona of Kip. I knew in time that this would determine the atmosphere I would envelop him in.

“The third atelier is personal. We exchange words. I engage my subject, breathing life into the dead space between photographer and subject, making time stand still.

“The fourth atelier is spiritual. Kip and I live on opposite shores and talk but a few times a year. But somehow I know when a call is to be, a beckoning to realize that all is well in matters of the day or of the heart. This unnerving, temporal connection with a subject can take personal portraiture to its true purpose—to say something about someone.
“The fifth atelier offers alchemy. Alchemy was known as the spagyric art after the Greek word meaning to separate and to join together. Marrying a new age mysticism via our artistic ally, Photoshop, bonding time must be spent with the portrait. It now tells the maker where to take it. I painted in the cracks of a life. As Leonard Cohen says, ‘That’s how the light gets in… ’

“And the secret ingredient, of course, is time—not time saved, but time savored—for in that special time, the faithful and true picture lays in waiting.”

To see more of Arthur Rainville’s work, visit his website: www.studiorainville.com

Ingredients
– Camera: Fuji Finepix S5 Pro
– Lens: Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro
– Exposure: 1/30 at f/2.8, ISO 800
– Light: Lowel iLight
– Enhancement: Photoshop and Nik Silver Efex Pro