Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Sunlit


Creating art takes energy. A lot of it is mental and for me completion of a piece that I've worked on steadily is usually followed by a fallow stage, as if my head is empty of all ideas or desire to draw or paint.

Its pointless to fight it, but simply work with it and find other ways to create. There are some portraits to finish as well as some ideas for prints that I must do some work with too. I also find that when I am drained from one medium, I revert back to my comfort zone of graphite or some other dry media and all is well again.

I did this little watercolour pour to get a feel for the process on a smaller scale. I'm not a flower person, but it seemed the appropriate thing to work on in this medium - at least at the moment. Its early days for me with this technique, but the results can be interesting. It takes some time and some planning for it to come together and look as it should. This doesn't really do what I had intended, mostly because I lost patience with drying times and masking fluid, etc., etc. However, the effect of strong sunlight is coming through, so all is not lost.

17 comments:

Billie Crain said...

i think this pour was a smashing success! the look is supposed to be loose and spontaneous and you succeeded. love the light you were able to perserve.:)

Chris Beck said...

This is lovely, Jeanette. It gives the impression of a very sunny spot in the garden. The color mixing on the flower bells is beautiful.

Unknown said...

Oh, I like this very much. The light pouring through those flowers is perfect.

Teresa Mallen said...

I like it too...it has a quality of freshness that is very appealing.

Gayle Mason said...

Beautiful Jeanette, you have captured the delicacy of the flowers perfectly.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Wow, you really have captured the light, Jeanette. Beautiful. I'm loving your pouring adventures.

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Billie. I see other pours that have much more depth to them than this. I guess its a matter of planning and careful palette choices too - as well as practice!

Chris, its an adventure everytime. One of these days I'll be able to predict results to some degree :)

Diahn, getting that effect of strong light makes it I think. Thanks for commenting.

Thank you Teresa. I have a long way to go in this technique, but enjoy the process.

Gayle, this is so different for me, not tight and controlled. I like the effect the colours and looseness has - both on me and the paper.

Thanks Robyn, I wish I could find a real life class about it somewhere close. I'd love to learn more about tricks and tips. Til then, I'll keep playing.

Jennifer Rose said...

I love how light and airy this piece is :D

So you just pour the watercolour right onto the paper and hope for the best? Or just mask areas and then remask different areas when needed?

Billie Crain said...

"Thanks Billie. I see other pours that have much more depth to them than this. I guess its a matter of planning and careful palette."

Jeanette, for more depth this is the time when you can drop in deeper, more concentrated color w/a brush. I've found that's what makes things start to pop.

Tracy Hall said...

Super painting Jeanette, it really captures the sunlit moment perfectly. Do more!

laura said...

It's perfectly lovely--the bright light, and the way the colors mingle on the page are fabulous. I love it

Jeanette Jobson said...

Yep Jennifer, that's about it! Wet the paper, let it dry a bit, then pour your colours over. Its great fun, but very messy. I've discovered doing it in my laundry sink works well instead of my studio floor. :)

Billie, I will try adding more colour with a brush. I can see that would work. Lots of experimenting to do!

Thanks Tracy. I will be doing more. I'm thinking it could work well with animals too. My mother has these giant furry cats that it may just be perfect for.

Cathyann, I'm pleased you're enjoying the blog and my efforts with watercolours. An award? How wonderful! Thanks so much for considering me for this.

Thank you Laura. Its so different from what I usually do, but playing with paint in this technique is wonderful.

Jo Castillo said...

Jeanette, looks like you had fun. The light is wonderful. Great stuff.

Anonymous said...

How full of life! Rock on!!

Charlene Brown said...

I loved this painting as soon as I saw its icon in the sidebar of Watermarks! And then I loved the comments even more - hope you'll proceed with the pouring of your mother's cats soon.

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Jo. Yes it was fun.

I love how loose this makes me work on paintings Tracy.

THanks for your comments Charlene, I'll be trying the cats as soon as I can.

Anita Davies said...

Beautiful!!!!