Annie

Annie   watercolor/relief ink   9.75 x 9.25

is an enthusiastic volunteer at "our" art center who posed for our watercolor class a few weeks back.  It was a two-week pose, the first week relegated to drawing and familiarizing; the second to the actual painting.  My "spot" was way off to the side where I saw only the shadow side of Annie's face.  I decided to use only monochromatic cool washes for the rendering, partially because that told the story of her pose relative to my easel, and also to oppose her colorful floral scarf with the simplicity of the face. In the end, I decided to cut a template and print the background area with relief ink, again to oppose:  the light airy watercolor strokes with an opaque and solid rest area.  This is certainly unlike anything I have previously done....and, I can honestly say, I like it...this was the story that presented itself to me.

Thanks, Annie!

A Rare Treat...enjoying the music of The Speedbumps...Cellist

Cellist   pastel/paper   20.5 x 13

is, for me, witnessing, experiencing, seeing and listening to something completely novel...a journey into the new and different.  We become so accustomed to the usual these days where our brains are constantly bombarded with stimulation.  It takes a lot to stand out.  We have always enjoyed the music of the Speedbumps, a local band with a new sound.  The symphony, not so much.  Although symphonic selections are quite lovely, I always re-experience childhood piano lessons...the same...again and again.  Hybrids have captured my interest...in vehicles, foods, in visual art and in music.  Combining the staid with the new provides a certain-something that captures my interest.  Mixed media.  Cafe au lait.  A partially destroyed painting providing a new path to resolution.  And so it was when the Speedbumps joined forces with the Canton Symphony this past Friday evening.  We were stimulated, excited, blown away.  A Prius of an experience.

Goal Setting...

Cellist   Pastel   20.5 x 13

is a good idea, I think.  There are so many things to think about when painting and drawing...too many things.  By focusing on one or two elements, I believe that we can feel success more readily, as well as expand our visual repertoires of problem-solving.  Pushing the envelope, so to speak.  For our last group model session before the summer break, I chose to come armed with a minimum of supplies....a pastel stick in inky blue, a wide flat watercolor brush, a water container, and a slice of watercolor paper.  I worked back and forth between drawing with the pastel stick and softening with water....a way of destroying, of dissolving a bit of the less-important.  I had a wonderful time.  The largest hurdle, I found, was the complete intensity of pastel as a medium.  It is the purest medium and, as a result, darks were achieved much more quickly than I am used to in either watercolor or oil.  Savoring the whites was more difficult.  I guess I am used to a slower build-up.  But the whole purpose of the challenge is to keep myself fresh by switching up some of the variables.

I was satisfied with the result and the experience took me out of my comfort zone.  What could be better....inky blue + musician?  Nothing.

Painting Challenges...

Bartlett Pear   watercolor and thread   5 x 8

are an excellent way to keep one's work fresh.  Most professional artists I know give themselves challenges on a regular basis.  Goal-setting is a related notion.  It keeps us from stagnation or becoming embedded in a comfort zone.  On the first night of watercolor class, we were each given a pear and selected a goal out of a hat.  My goal was to focus on value only by painting in one color.  Others were:  painting only with a flat brush; using an analogous color palette; using a power stroke; using both organic and straight line; and using a huge wash brush for the entire painting. 

"Bartlett Pear" is the result.  I used only a brown mix that was in the mixing well during class.  The yellow-green was added at home.

Between Drawing and Painting

Twosome   watercolor   14 x 10

I have found that many people who sign up for painting classes want to skip the drawing part. Too bad. Most of the errors that occur during painting are the result of drawing errors. I guess that drawing doesn't seem as fun.....what with no colors to choose from and no medium. I don't feel that way at all, as both drawing and painting involve visual problem solving....I am indeed in love with the process. It is THE TIME SPENT IN CREATING that spins my fan. There is always a half-step, a compromise, so to speak, between the two. Painting with one color allows the artist to experience the medium and solve value problems, without the extremely complex notion of color. After all, it really is value that tells the tale. I have found that the browns work extremely well as their built-in value property is quite dark, thereby having the capabilities of spanning the entire value scale. Not only that, it is pure unadulterated fun. Try it.....you'll like it.