WESTFIELD–Self-taught artist Norman Lacombe was in downtown Westfield Wednesday afternoon painting a cityscape of the area.
Lacombe, who has been painting for about 20 years, could be seen in front of Rosewood Home and Gifts on Elm Street Wednesday during the unusually warm and bright late-November afternoon. He was painting a picture of a portion of the downtown area with the sun to his back.
“Beauty rests on the canvas,” Lacombe said in between paint strokes and conversation Wednesday afternoon.
The picture was called “Downtown Westfield Cityscape,” and was painted with aqua oil on Masonite board in what Lacombe said was an impressionist style. Lacombe, who is also a craftsman that works with wood and also creates items like easels and steamships, said that he was drawn to the scene because of the view.
“I just think it is an interesting site with the steeple,” he said. “The thing about art is you see things differently that you don’t see until you draw or paint.”
According to Lacombe, the play of light and dark in the view was also what inspired him.
“It’s all about balancing the light and the dark,” he said.
Lacombe, at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, was there for about an hour and a half with his paints, masonite board and his 25-year-old easel that he first got in New York City.
“It’s been good to me, a good friend,” Lacombe said of the easel.
Lacombe said that in addition to the spot on Wednesday, he has also painted many times inside Grandmothers Garden in Westfield.
