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| Jardiniere watercolor/mixed 20.5 x 12 |
is a wonderful expression....and most often conjures up a birthday party. Most recently, my work "Jardiniere" was the subject of surprise for me. This painting, a watercolor, was begun in class from a model who posed as a gardener. I continued the work at home, filling in the spaces with an imaginary garden. Soon, I was overwhelmed with a sameness of color and a busy-ness that had taken over. It looked like most of my other garden paintings droned into sameness. I yearned to simplify the background and, thus, shift all of the attention to the gardener whose work is unending. I am quite a fan of the teachings of Robert Henri who believed that the evolution of a work depending on the altering of passages that seem wrong. As the work progressed, I found myself using gouache as well as printer's ink which was applied to a plate and pressed onto the surface. Colors were urged into excitement. The journey became totally unpredictable.
Surprise! Immediately afterwards, I was very confused as to the amount of affection I felt for this work. Now, several weeks later, I find myself liking it.
SURPRISE!
