An outside covered entry with a stucco surface is a perfect spot to create a unique statement…and here is mine.
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.
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!
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.
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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.
Get involved and donate your artwork to a good cause. It feels wonderful!
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.
I say... go to nature for inspiration. SIMPLISTIC, BUT NOT SIMPLE! When I think of growth and renewal, bright colors and crisp smells, I think of seasonal landscaping, spring greenery and ripening fruits and vegetables. These may have a short life but it is undeniably fresh! And a reminder to all of us to refresh especially at the start of a new year.
Colors in nature are ....well, perfect. Especially at each end of the spectrum of their growth periods as they mature. Look at California and Florida farms in the height of their growing seasons. They are rippling blankets of color that are, at first, a solid but, at closer inspection, almost pixilated versions of color that make me understand pointilism as an art movement just a little better. These strawberries are a perfect example. Note that even in the leaves the variation is from tip to stem, topside to underside and in proximity to other adjacent colors...so take a good look!
I have had fun painting this close-up of these luscious berries. Here are a few steps:
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A close up of the values that changed to a purple red for my darker areas |
This is an excellent beginner image to try, and I hope you will. Print a color and black and white version of my reference photo. I usually start with yellows and build from there. My pigments here are all transparents ( a property of each pigment) ; I used Hansa Yellow, Quinacridone Magenta, Transparent Orange and French Ultamarine Blue. Don't try to reach your darkest colors at first pass. instead let the layers dry and build on them. IF you want to play with the shine, try the pearlescent touches but they are not necessary. The size of the berries makes it easier to play with values and colors on the limited palette painting.
Have fun!
A little sparkle and shine can be a great addition to the normally dry and flat finished look of your watercolors. There are several techni...
