Soft and Tender

Eggs in Wire Basket   watercolor   10 x 10

I don't usually like to paint a subject more than once in a short period of time. However, with the case of the wild and dramatic egg basket, I felt compelled to try again in a manner than seemed more appropriate for the subject. My goal was a light application of paint, using tender strokes and modest blending. I think that I was successful. In polling my students, I found that some preferred the bolder one, while some liked the tender one. In fact, I like both as well. Ah..........the polar opposites.........the yin and the yang. Lesson learned: we can like more than one thing and we can be more than one thing.

Learning to play all of the notes

Nest Basket   watercolor/watercolor pencil   9.5 x 10

For me, painting is much like music. My favorite musicians play in a variety of styles to create different moods and lots of interest.....in other words, they seem to avoid formula music. I want my work to be like that. I want to play soft notes, as well as loud powerful ones. My usual hand is a heavy one..........I guess a bit bold.........so I am always attempting to lighten my hand when called for. My first attempt at a basket full of eggs is strong, using dramatic value shifts and line work at the end. I wasn't satisfied in that I got rather lost in all of the grasses and weeds. I wasn't certain that my treatment was appropriate for the subject. A bit distressing.