Have you added illumination to your watercolors?

 A little sparkle and shine can be a great addition to the normally dry and flat finished look of your watercolors. There are several techniques that create or at least imitate a shine. From varnished and waxed topcoats to tricking the eye to actually using watercolors that have a glitter effect, these all can showcase a wet surface or a shine on bird feathers or damp foliage...the possibilities are endless. And here are a few:

Water surface: using the movement of water by value change can give an appearance of shine and highlight.

Reflection on metal 

...and Glass

All of these "tricks" work but actually adding an inheritantly shiny item to your image steals the show. What we are going to focus on in this blog is using sheets of gold foil glued into your watercolor in a purposeful way. Much in the style of illuminated manuscripts from centuries ago, we will try to enhance with gold foil.I am following this YouTube artist , Theodora Gould, who shares her techniques and sells her products online:

I will use an already created alphabet to do our initials... just for fun at first. I do realize that this method requires patience and preparation...not necessarily my usual practice.😇 But I want to learn the process and use it in future works. I also want to share it with students.

I began with an already painted floral and added the initial "C". 

Mistake #1:This is not smooth paper, 

I usually prefer rough texture so gold foil is not going to lie flat

Mistake #2: I used Mod Podge as my glue/ just don't

Mistake #3: I did not wait for the glue to get to a certain point before applying the very thin gold sheet

But, I actually like this look of old, bumpy illumination. I filled in the openings with watercolor pigment

Stay tuned for more of this fascinating process.

Why are collectors not choosing watercolors? Let's explore that and change some misconceptions

 

Starting in January with a visit to The Oklahoma City Cowboy Museum, I’ve been trying to add visits to see other artist’s work. Just this past week we stopped by Inspiration Gallery and other galleries in Fredericksburg, Texas. Both had no watercolors on display. I should say all 3 of these carried bronze and clay statues and 99% oils, all Western themed as well. I did chat with the knowledgeable staff and they assured me that watercolor is well liked….but doesn’t sell. They brought up the difficulty with glass covering the artwork which is actually no longer an issue. We now use acrylic or plastic glazing almost exclusively or protect our images with wax or a fixative. It is a dilemma for watercolorists despite some fabulous artwork coming from amazing artists even in my home state of Texas. Let’s talk this out and see if we can uncover some of this negativity.

Size limitation: Large pieces are in demand

Watercolor "paper" (actually cotton fiber) has been made for hundreds of years. Fabriano started producing it in 1264 and is still a leading, quality papermaker. It is expensive but also comes in limited sizes: a full sheet is 22"x30" but elephant (30"x40") can be found in limited supply and a roll can be purchased at lesser quality. There are varying shades of brightness and smoothness, also thickness. The most common weight or thickness is 140# but I far prefer 300# as it absorbs, lifts and keeps its shape so much better. I use Arches made in the UK and currently a 5 pack of full sheets is well over $100. 

Canvases for acrylic and oil mediums are not as expensive and do come in a variety of qualities but the size is unlimited and can be as large as any frame can be built. BIG is appealing to art collectors and decorators which is something we can't easily provide.

Glazing: Watercolors must be protected

In order to prevent damage caused by bending or wetting any watercolor painting, a protecive layer is needed. Originally glass was the only option with a variety of tints, glares and UV protection andf a weight plus fragility that caused issues. Today, there are many options that are less fragile and weigh decidedly less: acrylic glazing, waxing and a pored coating. All of these have become accetable to the two maajor decision makers: American Watercolor Society in NY and National Watercolor Society ( the oldest) in California. Can we all say Yeah!!!!?

Misconceptions: Can you tell these are watercolors?

Some people (in general) assume watercolors are a prelude done before an oil is used. Or that they are all watery flowers painted with a delicate touch. Let me assure you...not any more! Some of my favorite current headliners in the watercolor medium paint with a wide range of subject matter and a richness of color and detail that is similar to oils. I'd like to show you three of today's leading American watercolorists: Laurin McCracken, Soon Warren and Lana Privitera. These three are the current top notch award winners, guest speakers, jurors and teachers internationally and are touted by the paint companies, brush makers and paper companies much like star athletes who promote Nike and Adidas. 

Soon Warren has an ability to exhibit reflection on foil and glassware that is hard to believe.

Laurin McCracken is a trained architect whose attention to detail and signature black background is comparable to the Dutch oil painters in the 1600's. Daniel Smith recently introduced McCracken Black as a pigment and it is wonderful!

Lana Privitera is capable of reproducing and ordinary scene with emotional quality and exquisite handling

Abstraction/ Abstracted: Again, this is a popular style and yet, often watercolor is not considered. Yet here are two abstract watercolorists, Carol Carter and Beatrice Baldwin

Beatrice is a local Austin educator and artist with a whimsical touch and a message.

Carol Carter enhances the water's properties with her own creativity for spectacular outcomes:

I would like to suggest a new category as these are not totally realistic or abstract portrayals but , by design, abstracted views of portraits, animals, landscapes and architecture.

Value:  We do a poor job of valuing our work as compared to other artists. It takes a big ego to realize you have created something of value and it is often difficult to price. If sold through a gallery or other art promotor there is often a percentage taken ( as much as 50%) and often the artist simply eats it.  As a rule, watercolorists tend to give their paintings away. They utilize an exclusive frame and charge what they paid for it. Why? I think every artist should visit galleries and see what is being asked for in the way of compensation. Certainly commissioned work is often better compensated but it is somewhat like surrogate mothering, made by you but not your baby. 

Some artists are late bloomers and have never bought art before deciding to paint.

Instead of determining price by how long it takes to complete it, I go by size. A full sheet ( 22"x30") should be $500 at a minimum. Even that is undervalued. Frames , which are yet another piece of art, for that size painting are often $500 as well. Should the frame cost more than the artwork? I don't think so. Something is wrong with this formula.

Conclusions:

The Current climate: Big, abstract and expensive are what collectors want. So....it reeally is this simple if you want to sell your Art.  Even if you paint realistically, use the largest paper available and in some way abstract colors or shapes to appeal to a broader horizon of people. Select unique, high quality framing and then put a fitting price tag on it. Be represented by an actual gallery that promotes your work if you can. 

Did I also tell you this should not be your only source of income? Did I have to tell you that?? I think it starts with the artists to change this non progressive attitude.  And we can , we must and we will turn this around!

Please leave a comment or suggestion. I'd love to hear from you.

I'm dreaming ...that we send our artwork as a gift to friends and family!

"I'm Dreaming..."is my choice for 2024

My inspiration was seeing some of our old family ornaments on my daughter's tree. 

I hope this makes you smile!That is my message.

Enjoy the happiest of Holidays!!

PS
 In case you run out of time, I merchandised this image on notecards, ornaments,  tote bags and pillows ...all are available on Fine Art America: carolsue-witt.pixels.com

Want to make a very unique statement? Try a wall mural...

 An outside covered entry with a stucco surface is a perfect spot to create a unique statement…and here is mine.

Wall murals were a popular decorating statement in the 90's...dining rooms, entryways and especially children's rooms were personalized into magical places using trick of the eye artwork. I was fortunate to be the right age and stage in my life to climb on ladders and fearlessly paint on people's walls. My confidence came from having the wall paint nearby for mistakes and having excellent partners in this endeavor both in St Louis, Missouri and then in McKinney, Texas. I felt like a surrogate accomplishing what someone envisioned. at first our clients were people we knew or word of mouth but eventually we were hired by an interior decorator ( thank you, Kim). She had high end clients and entered our completed rooms in contests in magazines like "Window and Wall Ideas" ....and we won! I have the magazines to verify this. What a thrill.

                                                      

Although the faze/craze did not last...it is creeping back as outdoor art in many parts of buildings and shops in cities large and small. It is, of course, all over Europe where it has existed for centuries. McKinney recently had grain bins painted by an Italian artist and it has become a tourist attraction there. So....I thought I would try a little touch of it in our new home in Austin. 

Our outdoor courtyard needed a fountain.

Acrylics are weather sturdy and remarkably easy to blend. For the grayish masonry I used a combination of Prussian Blue, Orange and Sap Green. I added Sepia to darken and Titanium White on the lighter areas.

Because it was a stucco wall, I had the texture built in but there are mediums to add texture to any project.

The water…this is a lifelong pursuit…how to capture the movement, glisten and wetness! Basically it is the shape and pattern that catches light because water is clear, not blue. I used French Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White to spritz, spray , drip and puddle the waters in this fountain.

Stay tuned for the final view. It was still too hot in early November to complete this composition so I’m just waiting for cooler temps.

Can an underpainting improve your artwork?

 I think so!  It certainly has been a wonderful addition to my processes and how I now begin almost every painting.  This is an example. 

My painting titled "Snip, Snip" ( completed in 2022)was painted to honor my Mother and her sisters who were amazing seamstresses. Those Italian girls were all taught to sew at a professional level and made careers with this ability. Although I tried, I am a poor substitute to their expertise. But....I did inherit a love of art, color and a lot of scissors!

Let me explain how I created this painting.  

1. First I arranged scissors in a complicated overlapping pattern. I photographed the color and the B/W versions as a guide. 

The B/W then became my value study which showed me a minimum of 5 values I wanted in my painting. From the lightest to the darkest, I established a mid tone and one value inbetween.

2. Sketching this on watercolor paper did not require more than a ruler. I did enlarge the shapes from the 8.5" x 11" copy paper to a 15"x 22" sheet of 140# Arches rough paper.

3. The underpainting consisted of just a yellow, a red and a blue : Hansa Yellow (Light or Medium), Alizarin Crimson and French Ultramarine Blue. These are all transparent which means they play nicely, blending well with other colors. That is especially important for the underpainting.  

           I sprayed the paper with a mister so that it is spattered and damp in places. Then, starting with a mildly diluted yellow start tossing pigment from my brush. I encourage you to let the paint and water mix without using a brush, simply turn your paper or use a straw to blow/push it in opposite directions. Keep it soft and let the white of the paper show through. Let this dry.

        You can see why this approach cannot be copied by anyone

The Scissors

Now you are ready to paint your shapes. I started with each of the finger holes and handles individually but no need to rewet the paper as you have already done that. I then left the inner and outer blades white to help the viewer enter this scene. Have fun with this endeavor: use a variety of colors as you progress through these parts repeating each color. 

The Basket

 So you already have a busy design but it's floating in space. The basket anchors it and also allows some 3 dimensionality.you have many choices here…I’m going to create a softer monotone basket as I restart this painting in Kerrville for the Guadalupe Watercolor Group.

And, after that event, their President, Marcia Pape, sent me this wonderful photo collage of the event. I think a picture is worth a thousand words here. 

free.www.avast.com

Art for a Good Cause....it's such a good idea!

June is just over and can I say phew?! We managed to find a lovely new one story home in Austin just 3 miles from our current peeps. We wrapped up the entire process of buying, down sizing and moving while summer sizzled. Grandsons, neighbors and Square Cow Movers were all great help...and I can't say enough about our Realtor, Elicia Michaud. She is now focusing on selling our 1 1/2 story ( we really don't want 2 homes) ...let me know if you are looking.

And, of course, I had agreed to paint a whiskey keg during all of this. Garrison Brothers Distillery had the awesome idea to use their barrels as a fundraiser to benefit the west Texas fire victims from earlier this year. I got mine at Art Direct and here is a little of the process...

I envisioned our stunning prickly pear cactus in bloom so used photos from our yard to scatter on all sides of the barrel.

At a certain point I knew a soft blue background would be an excellent border

The barrel was heavy & a little awkward to view from my angle but it smelled so good!

Small details here and there such as a gold metallic paint gave each view a personality

And here is the happy finished barrel. The big event was held at Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas on Saturday, June 22nd. I hope someone will enjoy owning this pretty unique item AND that it went for some good $$$$$!

Get involved and donate your artwork to a good cause. It feels wonderful!

Tarnished?....let's polish up our colors

 I never understand painters who can't find something to paint.  That simply does not happen to me. I have more paintings planned than I have time.  Sometimes it only takes an everyday chore to inspire a watercolor.  For example, I decided to polish my Mother's silverware, while Spring cleaning. It really needed it. It was tarnished. This silver is a treasured gift that I rarely use. It's a pattern called "First Love"by Rogers and it makes me smile to think of my parents saving to buy these pieces back in 1942. I wanted to have others enjoy this heirloom so I polished the items, arranged them in a specifiic way and shot many photos at all angles.

At a March 23 rd one day workshop in Bastrop, Texas I was able to share the processes I used to create the lower 2/3 of this painting. We masked certain areas so that we could begin with an underpainting of Hansa yellow, French Ultramarine Blue and Opera Pink. With 6 enthusiastic painters, we set out to explore the reflection on the various shapes of a fork and spoon with an etched pattern called “ First Love”. It was a 1942 wedding during WWII and setting up housekeeping would not happen for a few years….The dream of many including my parents was to be able to eat many meals with family and friends through busy Holidays,  lazy weekends and Sunday dinners using these treasured gems…and the meals were so very good, many Italian favorites. I’m so proud to own them and carry on the tradition. I’m pleased the idea appealed to these artists who met with me at LostPines Art Center.

Here are a few photos of the efforts of my students who were amazing! Not all scenes were completed in class but several sent me their finished paintings a few days later.