Pink & Yellow Roses

Watercolor, 8 x 12 inches

During a recent cool spell, I played in the studio with a simple flower arrangement. Painting it twice [because I'm too impatient to let the washes dry properly to just paint one], I put the flowers away- actually they went in the trash- and then picked one study to rework and push further.  Frequently, with watercolor I've found that it is in pushing it further, beyond my comfort level, that the best 'stuff' happens. Of course, some get lost on the way, but that's part of the process.

 

The pink rose in the watercolor is "Souvenir de la Malmaison", a pink Bourbon antique rose with the loveliest scent. It requires no spraying or fussing. Truly, all I do is cut the flowers. This lovely plant produces blooms year round in New Orleans.

Distant Buildings- Purple Sky2

Watercolor, 7 x 5 inches, $250

Since the Watercolor Workshop began in late February, I've noticed that I've been able to enjoy painting with the same enthusiasm that I had when I began years ago.  Teaching  in my studio has been a very positive experience; I'm fortunate to have a wonderful group of students. My goal in teaching is to ignite interest in the watercolor medium, while laying out the lessons in a sequential pattern so that we build on our knowledge base. I've seen dramatic results, with sometimes breathtakingly beautiful paintings showing up on the studio wall as students bring in the work they've been doing during the week.

Last Wednesday evening, we spent a short time mixing all the possible combinations of the color green, using a lemon yellow and a yellow ochre combined with cerulean, thalo blue, ultramarine and black.  We've been painting landscapes and working a bit with transparent washes. I enjoyed seeing the class realize all the subtle shades of green available from mixing a few colors. As in oils, it's easy to get too comfortable and just dig into a green right out of the tube. By mixing your own green rather than depending on a thalo green or viridian, the color harmony is easier to control.

We also studied design, using an exercise from Arthur Wesley Dow's book "Composition". It entails drawing a landscape and then redesigning or simplifying the linear composition several times before deciding which version might be the best choice for a painting. While this lesson may seem advanced for a beginner, it actually gives us more freedom and offers a real chance for succeeding with our work.  

Beginning a painting may be considered analogous to taking a road trip. If I wish to drive to California from Vermont and simply get in the car and begin driving, then there's a very good chance that I will get lost.  If I first consult a map, I have a better chance of success. If I spend a few extra minutes to decide on the BEST route, I will ultimately save time and have a more pleasant experience. Designing the painting through a series of line drawings before the brush touches the paper is like choosing the best route. Arranging the masses, trying a few different shapes for the outer dimensions, deciding where the darks and the lights will be takes a few moments, but once you try it it's amazing how many good ideas show up.

The watercolor, Distant Buildings-Purple Sky was painted from memory, utilizing a series of transparent washes.

Leon's Balcony

Watercolor, 14 x 20 inches

Painted in the French Quarter, this watercolor always reminds me of how beautiful old New Orleans really is.  Truthfully, I get a thrill just watching a wash dry.

I haven't done a lot of pre-planning with my watercolors, usually just using the 'point and shoot' method. I set up on location, after driving around in a general area of the city and stopping when a shadow or a piece of architectural something catches my eye.
The success rate is sometimes slim with this approach, just slapping and sloshing the paint around. It can be great fun.

An intuitive response develops as to when to lay the next wash down or how to mix that wash, what colors to use, whether to wait for the previous wash to dry or not. When dealing with transparent and opaque colors, the possibilities increase exponentially.

My Watercolor Workshop Series is in full swing on Wednesday nights. 

I totally enjoy teaching.