Where Do the Wee Ones Come From?

Painting last week, this wee figure appeared under my brush, quite unexpectedly. Where did he or she come from? Is it a Neolithic person who might have assembled that craggy and creviced stone circle nearby? Could it be a Druid or rotund monk? Or perhaps a fabled wee one?

 

No matter. Popping out of my imagination, this creature with little feet and a hooded cloak is most welcome.

This spread started out as an experiment to see how watercolors washed over bits of foil. It turned out to a little time travelogue. I love it when this happens!


 

Still Playing with Watercolors

For over a month, I’ve been experimenting with both ½ pan and tube watercolors in a commercially-made journal. There’s only two spreads left in the book but that will not stop me using watercolors after that! From the looks of this journal, you can see various techniques borrowed from my first love—acrylics. Can’t believe how warped this so-called watercolor journal has gotten! Has anyone ever ironed down paper after it has dried?

  There are many test spreads using Windsor & Newton ½ pans and a no. 14 brush as well as a few with W&N tube watercolors and a 2” skywash brush. Love the freedom of such a wide brush and look at the tube colors here! Indigo, what a gorgeous color! Blue jeans, stormy skies, deep waters. Guess the acrylic comparison would be Phthalocyanine (or Phthalo) Blue. Such a gorgeous hue!

Now I am convinced watercolors have a place in my art cabinet. They ARE great for working in art journals and will probably do their main job there inside. Right now, I just can’t see painting and framing a watercolor nor using it as a journal cover since the completed work can lifted with more water!

 

Next up? I’ll probably make myself a new watercolor journal using up paper originally bought for acrylics. Not sure why I have an 18” x 24” block of rough watercolor paper—maybe I was inexperienced at the time with the difference between cold-press and hot press and how each affected the way I used acrylics. I want to see how using 100% cotton paper allows for more experiments. Maybe I’ll make a sampler with various other watercolor papers on hand.

The Vale of Tears and Pain



The Vale of Tears and Pain
14” x 20”
Acrylic on paper


For a good part of my life I wanted to be a writer. I molded fictional worlds and created characters out of dialog and thoughts. Many, many short stories and novels were envisioned; some even finished.

But it wasn't until I became a visual artist that I could fully, quickly express myself and complete pieces of work. Color and texture replaced plot and chapters.

I painted "Vale of Tears and Pain" this week in a few sessions. Texture from acrylic mediums, tissues, and papers became the storyboard to which I added warm colors. For me, painting is the best medium I have found to express myself. I really love the simple materials, paper and paint, and a few tools, palette knife, 2" brush, so hands and eyes can create a dance, releasing emotions.

When too much time has elapsed since I painted, as is the case now, I delight and learn anew how precious this form is and wonder why I neglected it. Bookbinding requires design and planning. Painting requires intuition and spontaneity. Hooray for not thinking so much!

Threshold II

12" x 18"

acrylic on paper

New Painting

Nebula
9” x 12”
acrylic on paper

Mystical New Painting

Initiation

9" x 12"

Acrylic on paper

Last week I returned to painting. It’s been a while and remembering how to play with paint again, this piece of watercolor paper began yielding something wondrous.

This has happened before. I’ll be mindlessly rolling paint around when light and shadow will appear and I will be filled with delightful discovery. Since nothing was planned, I often feel like an archeologist finding an object in a dig and need to clear away the encrusted surface to bring a treasure to life.

If I had consciously set out to paint this mystical image, it would not be nearly so powerful to me. It might lack great technical skill or refinement since I’m often afraid to overwork such a piece thus losing its raw intent. So, I might not have nailed this one. It might not communicate effectively what I felt, but I’m pleased to have uncovered it.

New Painting

Enlightenment
24 x 30
Acrylic on canvas

I love this painting! This is the best thing I've done so far.

Now I understand when asked to name their favorite book, movie, or painting that writers, actors, or artists often reply, "the one I'm working on right now."

Since I hadn't done a large canvas painting in a long time, I challenged myself to begin something I could show in an upcoming June exhibit through the San Antonio Watercolor Group. Instead, I might enter it in their fall juried competition or in a different juried event with the San Antonio Visual Artists.

But right now, I'm so in love with it I don't want it to go anywhere!