Or weeks.
Or months.
On occasion in any relationship, a time out is beneficial. In the exchange between the artist and the painting there are definitely times to step back. I could be the one to wear a bag to shut out the dissonance. Since I have opposing thumbs, I’ve chosen to muffle the work for awhile. It’s like throwing a blanket over a parrot cage. The squawking and yammering goes blissfully silent. When I come back to the easel, the image will be fresh and the intuitive message clear about how to proceed.
The first pass of color...
“In The Hood”
My husband pronounced this “dark.” Good. That means I’m on track with the mood and delivery.
Anyone who makes art knows there’s withdrawal and cranky if a project is interrupted or we don’t make art for any length of time. I couldn’t get back to this one for a couple of days and was scared I couldn’t find the juju that initiated the effort in the first place. The first few minutes of fondling color and the grumpy smoothed out in preliminary experiments with color and value.
Some people use worry stones. Some knock back a few stiff drinks. All I have to do is play with crayons and I’m mellow.
I’ve watched and snuck up to place a few strokes on the way. Looking forward to some concerted work on it this week.
The second phase...
The next step is the large charcoal sketch on a full sheet of Fabriano paper, washing the charcoal for approximate values and an acrylic wash for permanent underpainting. After that, two coats of pumice gesso.
The process...
Cork Rooftops
Segment of Cork Rooftops, 12” x 12”, Watercolor pencil on BFK
These drawings are part of an experiment. I came home from Europe with the idea of making a book based on images from the trip using media and supports I’ve not tried or don’t feel very confident employing. I cut 12” x 15” supports from all of the papers I had scraps or pieces of (from rice paper to canvas pads) and began with this watercolor pencil and marker sketch and the intention the drawings/paintings would resolve at about a foot square. The left over three inches of surface is reserved for notations and binding.
Dover Castle
Dover Castle, 12’ x 12”, Gouache on Fabriano Uno
Part of the Europe book, the second in the step off the cliff of comfort series. Gouache is a media I’ve never used and I’m in the first blush of love. The disappointment was finding out it’s been so long since I’ve used watermedia that Uno paper isn’t manufactured anymore and I have to find another support.