It turned out to become “Atmospheres”, a collection of ethereal textured abstract watercolor paintings, to be revealed on November 25 for Small Business Saturday. But it began with an exuberant exploration with Louise Fletcher’s assignment in “Find Your Joy” taster course.
For 24 years my method for painting small collections has been the same. On 22×30” Arches Cover paper I freely paint (with joy) using the colors that suit the moment. When it is full, I tear it into 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 or 2 separate pieces. Each one is related by color and energy. Wanting them to relate speaks to a deep desire. (I think that is because I want us all to relate. We all DO relate.) Then each one is considered for its unique destiny. There is a communication hidden in there. It’s up to me to discern and transcribe it.
In “Find Your Joy” the task was to use a 22×30” paper and tape off segments and treat it as a whole. I started with Sumi ink. At the time I was still sticking to my 3 primary color pallets. This one was cool primaries; Da Vinci watercolors – Cerulean, crimson and Arylide yellow. For the crayons and pencils Caran d’Ache – neocolor blue, carmine and yellow, and Supra marine, carmine and Naples yellow.
Atmospheres, WIP 1
It is very hard for me to leave art I don’t like and can’t resolve as something I consider to be a problem. The nine sections were trapezoids. The colors were so awful and dull so I freely brushed gesso across with a wide bristle brush. This created the textures I used to love when using acrylics. And gesso is acceptant of pencil. It resisted watercolor to some extent. But areas of pigmented raw paper, soaked more pigment and brought contrast.
What I loved and wanted to keep was the veil-like quality that conveyed a tranquil ethereal atmosphere. Light hearted. Angelic. So that meant keeping the white. Colored pencil drawn as frotage gave just the amount of color. The rule was broken by using a multitude of Prismacolor pencils.
Atmospheres, WIP 2
Atmospheres, WIP 3
Atmospheres, WIP 4
Atmospheres, WIP 6
The only bit of collage in these nine are the script flags that express a prompt for true being. Ideas and imagination contained in prismatic trapezoids.
Atmospheres, WIP 7