Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Firebird



The beauty in abstraction is that it can also let you find form where you thought there was none.

This combination of gesso and tissue on watercolour paper was randomly placed, simply 'glued' in place with gesso behind and on the tissue to act as a receptacle for colour.  The crevices that the paper creates and the texture of the gesso give a wonderful surface to experiment with.

After a few washes of watercolour, the form of a bird started to emerge from the surface.  I continued to allow it to come forward with darker washes at the edges and suddenly there was the firebird.  So named because of the intense golds and reds that predominate.

You never know what you will find if you look hard enough.

13 comments:

Billie Crain said...

I see the bird! I really like this one. It has a lot of energy.

Gary L. Everest said...

Hi Jeanette,
Amazing! Simply amazing. Don'tcha just love it when something like this happens?!
Have another great day tomorrow!
I've used up my quota of exclamation marks, so it's time to go.
Sincerely,
Gary

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love this piece. I enjoy working with tissue, gesso and watercolour as well.
Stay inspired!

Jeanette Jobson said...

It just seemed to paint itself Billie. I like it when that happens :)

Thanks Gary and yes, I wish all paintings would just fall into place this easily. Watch me screw up the next one when I film it :)

Michelle, the textures give so many options, don't they?

Jennifer Rose said...

took me a minute, but then he popped off the paper :D

Sergio DS said...

Great still-life and abstraction, I like it.

Jeanette Jobson said...

Good camoflage Jen :D

Thanks Sergio.

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

This one made me want to touch the screen!I love the colours.

Jeanette Jobson said...

The rusts and golds, especially with turquoise, are my favourite colours Lisa.

Yes, this is very textured and begs to be touched.

Christiane Kingsley said...

Fantastic textures, Jeanette!

renate said...

Hello Jeanettte:) Lovely work. The colors and the texture are stunning!

Nancy Van Blaricom said...

This one is a WINNER for sure.
Was your gesso colored or was it white?
Wonderful...

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Christiane

Hello Renate, welcome to the blog. These are some of my favourite colours that keep cropping up again and again. My wardrobe is going to have to reflect them soon! :)

Hi Nancy, thanks. I used white gesso as the base. Even at all white, the texture really stands out.