Pumpkin and Pediment

Pumpkin and Pediment   watercolor   12.5 x 20

is the result of a challenge that I offered to myself...that of painting only from a sketch.  In years past (decades, actually) I found myself married to the reality of the subject.  We are then, I think, subject to the reality of the objects in terms of "getting it right".  I am hoping that "getting it right" in the future includes much more of my personal expression...in the strokes and in the paint quality itself.  I have found that the more I remove myself from the objects themselves, the more I rely on my personal observations and feelings...the result is less emotional, less trite, I guess.  Two favorite objects are the subject:  a pie pumpkin and the broken back of a former patio bench that is saved in our garage.  I cannot resist hand-carved things.  Shapes are polar opposites:  organic and geometric.  Patterning which I adore.  Textures opposed as well.  A limited color palette featuring complements and the resultant green.  I am quite happy with the result and plan to continue working from sketches.