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Monday, June 29, 2020

Sliding Back Into Watercolors

Red Bud   watercolor   13.5 x 10
is a daunting task.  This painting was one of the first watercolors of the season.  As I have little patience for perfectly arranged bouquets, I stuck some red bud branches into a jar, along with some vinca vine for interest. Floral paintings can easily become a story about the vase, which doesn't do much for me.  Simple stories do. The palette was limited.  Detail was kept to a minimum.  Both sides of the paper were lightly misted with water, as the transition from wet to dryer is one that both appeals and excites. The bottom background shape was painted with a light wash from the mixing well of the palette, combining all of the previously used colors to create a harmonic neutral.  And, of course, brown (a reddish tone) in the top background.  I have found that I like to offset the sweet floral hues with an earthy brown which, for me, keeps the floral paintings from reading too sweetly.

After years and years of painting both from life, and from reference photos out of necessity, I have found that I much prefer the imperfect boldness that occurs when I paint from life. 

I am still trying to define what, for me, makes a good painting.  It is always so elusive.

I am ready to  move one.