BURSTING OUT ALL OVER

I've dug into the archives for some paintings that are from almost a decade ago. It's weird to compare them to the work I do now, but since this blog is about a journey, I include them here - even if they are out of sequence.

This painting was one of the first 'poured' paintings I ever tried. Miskit was applied to protect shapes of each layer of color and value while I poured new layers of color over the wet paper. I think this one had at least 6 layers of miskit and pours, maybe seven. Removing all that miskit is the hardest part of the painting. Once the miskit's off, it's nearly done! Softening a few edges and adding some soft suggestions of distant leaves finished the piece.

The car's long gone, probably rusted totally by now. But the memory of seeing it 'planted so beautifully' in early June on a winding, hilly country road in our county remains vivid. The rose was a wild one that had sprung up in this deserted treasure and reminded me of an old Hippie! I could be one:-)

"FLOWER POWER" Transparent Watercolor on 140# CP Arches or Fabriano??? about 15 x 11" COLLECTED

YUPO ON ANOTHER RAINY DAY

After posting the 'London Rainy Umbrella' scene on YUPO, I decided to change it. That's one of the great advantages of painting on YUPO. Major reconstruction is possible without compromising the painting.

I felt that the pattern created by the lights and darks was not very strong in the original post on May 5th. Check out the new painting, then look at the comparison of the old one and the new one below, which I've posted in black and white.

Eliminating the color factor in the pictures posted below helps show the 'pattern' relationships better. We read paintings by the value changes of shapes and the edges that we see. The pattern that's created by the different values and different shapes must be interesting enough to make us "stop and look."

I like the patterns of the final adjustments much more. I not only added some medium and dark shapes in several areas, but also lifted out some light shapes on the pavement. The painting seems stronger and more interesting to my eye now, and the overall effect has a little more of a 'wet, windy city' feeling to it now. It's done......I think.