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.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Catch a Wave in watercolor?...it isn't easy!

-
Image
 Water is the most mesmerizing subject to capture! It is emotional, as it can be ominous and brooding as a storm approaches, or, peaceful and quiet on a sunny day at the beach. And watercolor is the perfect medium , in my opinion, to attempt to paint it. It is reflective, often moving in several directions, has foam and tiny particles in it and changes color with every ripple. So for my March class I decided to start with a giant ocean wave as it reached its peak. I suggested using transparent watercolors so that the colors could be seen as glazes were added and I painted on a 15"x22" piece of paper to honor it's size. So....how do we recreate a massive force of nature with all of its elements on a flat piece of paper? Here's how we attempted it: 1. Using a reference photo which was copied in color and also black and white ( easy value study), I sketched a transferrable image. Some did their own but I usually provide the sketch.              ...
Read more

Artsy Shark Featured Artist....Carol Sue Witt!

-
Image
 This summer I submitted my name to Artsy Shark, a well respected and well followed art magazine ...and they agreed to do an article about my art. It was a challenge ( but a good one!) for me to figure out how all my creativity that has only increased over the years, evolved. And to select some of my favorites to showcase. Many thanks to Artsy Shark and especially Carolyn and Loren. Here are some of my all time favorites: "Snip, Snip"                                             "Low Water Crossing" "Deep Roots"                                                                                                     "Deer Me...It's Win...
Read more

Want to try a new watercolor product? How about Brusho...!

-
Image
Happy 2019! Looking to start the new year by trying something new? Why not join me in experimenting with Brusho. This product, made in Sheffield in the UK, has been around awhile but is relatively new in the US. I saw a demo and knew right away I wanted to play with these vibrant and intense crystal of dyes and other blended pigments. They can be sprinkled on for less control or made into a paste as they dissolve in water and brushed on for a more controlled use. Either way, they are potent , dynamic and very staining....so wear some gloves or be prepared to wear some color. There are 35 colors available but I started with 13 that include lemon yellow, yellow ochre,  sandstone ( very orange), burnt sienna ( gorgeous color),lime green ( wow!), moss green, olive green, terra-cotta (very watermelon red), scarlet, ultramarine and cobalt blues. From a demo on Cheap Joe’s website by , I learned to never use more than 3 of these at a time because the dominating color will prevail and the ...
Read more