Dancing Shoes

Dancing Shoes   watercolor   9.5 x 14

I believe in the adage "Dance like no one's watching". Likewise, "Paint like no one's watching". What a wonderful way to spice up the day! "The Winter Blues" exhibit opens this Friday at Second April Galerie in Canton, Ohio. I liken this place to the Moulin Rouge....well, at least for me. It is full of colors, activities, live music, great food and good vibes. The opening, which is free and open to the public is from 5 - 9 pm. Over 40 artists will be exhibiting! Don't be surprised if you find yourself dancing.

To masque or not to masque

Dancing Shoes   watercolor   9.5 x 13

Watercolor is a wonderful medium. Most watercolorists feel a sense of satisfaction when they "savor the whites", i.e. preserve white areas of the paper that sparkle. Wow....that is so much easier said than done! I gave up using masking fluid (a.k.a. liquid frisket) years ago as the process was messy, awkward and left behind the most awkward shapes. It was done with a paint brush coated with soap which ended up ruined. This year I rediscovered masque....in the form of the Masquepen, which has a needle-like dispenser, making the process more agreeable. The dots on "Dancing Shoes" were formed with this magical substance that is fed onto the paper like glue, left to dry, then subsequently peeled off. Even though I am not a great fan of masking fluid, I have changed my attitude about it....we artists need all the help we can get!