Painting from Class

After demonstration by Linda Neuenschwander in art class on Friday, I let loose with a wet-on-wet painting of flowers in a vase.  I wet the entire paper before beginning, but since the paper was drying unevenly, it left me with a variety of hard vs soft edges.  And of course I love that!  After it dried, I added touches of blue, some definition to the petals and a few more leaves.  Though one does have to work quickly in the initial stages while the paper is wet, this process of finishing a painting actually takes quite a bit of time and patience to discern what is needed, and most importantly what is not needed.  This was a fun painting to create as I always get inspiration from being around other painters.  Happy painting to all!

Simply Intuitive

This is one of my simply intuitive paintings, no pencil drawing on the paper prior to painting and no pre-planning of even what I was going to paint.  I selected colors I felt drawn to, testing how they mixed on a scrap of watercolor paper.  On partially wet paper I added color intuitively, intending not to create any recognizable image but to create a pleasing abstract design with which to start. I then let it dry, the result of which you can see below. 

Stepping back from my painting frequently to pay attention to all parts at once, I created a variety of soft and hard edges, increased value contrasts, and some texture by spattering.  These subsequent additions were minimal but essential, as you can see, carefully and deliberately added to create balance, excitement and depth.  There you go. I called this one, Depth of Red.  Hope you like it.

Leave Some to the Imagination!

I watched the elephants for a long time at the St Louis zoo. This one was spraying dirt all over himself making quite a spectacular show! I had done some sketches from a photo, then a few direct paintings with no pre-drawing, and finally a painting of the elephant integrated into an exciting underpainting or color wash. In the watercolor workshop I attended recently I was intrigued with how Jean Haines would typically leave out at least half of the detail of her subject. Certainly adds to the mystery doesn't it?

 

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Waterloo Watercolor Group exhibit

On a springtime walk in the country near my home, I delighted in the discovery of these emerging white blossoms, enjoying the anticipation of dewberries to come and immersing myself in capturing their freshness in my painting.  I enjoyed creating a balance of light and dark as well as a combination of lost and found edges.  

This painting is one of 3 juried into the Waterloo Watercolor Group Fall show, currently on exhibit at the North Hills Gallery.

 
Here I am receiving a Merit Award for Rose Joy at the opening reception for the show. The exhibit is especially interesting this year as the artists wrote a brief statement for each painting, explaining their inspiration for the piece.  I am honored to be a part of such a beautiful watercolor exhibit and such an interesting and diverse group of painters!

The Waterloo Watercolor Group Fall Show continues through December 1 at the North Hills Gallery, 7050 Village Center Drive in Austin, Texas.