Watercolor Painting for Relaxation

It’s summer here, and I don’t know that I ever feel more joyfully alive than when I’m out in my own yard & garden space.

Better yet, barefoot.

There’s all kinds of scientific evidence that describes the health benefits of grounding oneself by being outside with bare feet, especially in the early mornings. It gives our mitochondria a boost! Not that I think about that when I’m enjoying myself. It’s purely justification for messing about in the out-of-doors.

Here I am, working on a garden painting.

I am more at home with oil paints than water medium paints, so this is a bit of a deviation for me to paint plein air in something other than oils.

Truthfully, I wanted to sit down while I painted, and how well the art turns out or how saleable it is, is secondary to the pleasure of the process this time. I don’t want to sell the painting, anyway. It’s my way of enjoying the garden.

  1. Watercolor does dry quickly and is better in many ways for light, high-key colors.

  2. Watercolor is less fuss to set up and take down and clean up.

This is how it turned out…

Important! It is NOT finished yet! I went out this morning to sit in the chair and dab at it some more.

I was fairly unhappy with the artwork yesterday when I put it away, although I was happy with the experience of being in the garden. It was another confirmation of a reason that I paint/create things….

I paint as part of genuine inquiry. If there’s something I’m entranced by, I try to capture its essence in my humble way.

Like the next person, I am wanting to keep body and soul together as long as possible. This takes $, maybe even $$$ now that inflation is rising (LOL!). I have discovered though, that I am personally incapable of making art based on popular motifs, or “what’s selling” and keep my self-respect. Kudos to those who sincerely have art tastes that match the trends! In some ways I’m jealous.

I’m in it for inquiry’s sake. I self-soothe with art-making. I make artifacts for myself… and for you.

That being said, changing mediums is a great way to refresh.

Tips for Watercolor and Gouache Painting

  • Watercolor and gouache may be used together, but since gouache is an opaque paint, you will want to begin with watercolor, switching to gouache only when you feel you need opaque and/or deeper, darker colors.

  • I find it pleasant to work on gessoed watercolor paper. I like how I can add a little water and reactivate an area and move it around.

  • I like to use an aesthetic set up… a real glass (not plastic), a plate, a wooden support board, a pretty rag.

  • Use better brushes than I have:-)! I may spend a little money to upgrade both my brushes and gouache quality soon.

  • Be sure you have a rag and paper towel handy. The rag is softer and will pull out color more delicately, while the paper towel can be twizzled to a sharp point or used when you want harder edges in what you lift from the paper.

  • Think in terms of light to dark. Begin with a thin wash of color to get the overall tone started, then let it dry (a few minutes).

  • I like to alternate between painting with deeper, darker color where I can in the negative space, and painting the main features, closer to the front of the picture.

  • Reserve your white/lights! If you lose them, you can be very pro about it and buy Miskit (like rubber cement, it preserves a section that you can paint over and rub off later), or do what I do and scrub it out. White gouache is also useful, but know that it tends to look blue or cool unless it’s wet, straight out of the tube.

  • The main thing is to enjoy yourself and RELAX. Listen to the wildlife around you! Even if you end up with a green blob, remember there are ways to artistically justify that, too! Have fun!

I stood in the shade for the first session, but no shoes!

I sat in a chair this morning to work on it a little more. I feel it’s good to show you a piece that I am not confident about. I don’t think this is amazing. For me it’s more of a mental health time and a way to enjoy the brief blooming time of my hollyhocks, which I adore. There was a fine misty rain spraying down on me and the picture. I think there are tiny droplets speckling the picture. Wonderful!!

It’s still not finished. I can’t truthfully say that it’s even attractive yet!

I quit for the day as soon as I feel tired of observing. I’ll add a photograph of it when it’s done in the near future.

I’d love to hear about your boredom busters!!!

Do you switch mediums often?

The Simple Guide to Art Collecting

The Simple Guide to Art Collecting

Original art will outlive both the collector and the maker. Since the dawn of time, people have had the compulsion to create art and organize their life experiences into “story” through pictures, poetry, music, and a variety of narrative forms. I’ve stood in front of pieces and wept unexpectedly….

High Cliff, Coast of MainebyWinslow Homer/ American Art

High Cliff, Coast of MainebyWinslow Homer/ American Art

(above link to image at the Smithsonian American Art Museum website)



I read a good article in the October 2012 issue of "The Artist's Magazine" written by Jerry N. Weiss, titled, "I cannot Do Better Than That".

The title quote is in reference to the oil painting, High Cliff, Coast of Maine,by Winslow Homer.  Apparently, he had showed this painting a lot for 9 years before it found a buyer.  It contributed to his frequent questioning of himself in his mid-life sales slump.  In his frustration he asked his gallery in Chicago, "Why do you not sell that "High Cliff" picture?  I cannot do better than that.  Why should I paint?"

The painting is very forceful and naturalistic, but beautiful.  Perhaps it wasn't a relaxing living room piece.



At any rate, I found the article interesting and can relate to Homer's struggle to equate sales of pieces that he felt were among his best with his sense of self worth.

Life on The Slow Setting

This past month, I was feeling really cheerful and thankful for the time I had to enjoy household tasks.

One morning, I was standing on a dining room chair with one foot on the table cleaning the little chandelier that hangs there.  Granted, the sun was shining bright on the snow and in

Michigan

that does wonders for the heart at this time of the year.

 Like a lot of other people, I really bond with my house and want to have the time to enjoy taking care of it.  Not that it always works out that way.

It’s those times when I’m in the moment that give me an emotional boost.

I consider myself a sensitive person (or a highly sensitive person!).  I’m often overwhelmed with the size and number of the world’s problems.  I try to live in such a way that I effect positive change and it’s these little tasks, the joy of family, and the beauty of art and nature that keep me from stumbling over the sorrows outside of my sphere of influence.

And did I mention?  Bring on the spring!!

Living Above The Clouds In Montefiascone

1st painting of the trip, the view from the window

I am really late in blog posting....I am going to start where I left off and add a few more as I get to it.  This summer was a whirlwind of travel, house buying, Chicken Pox, and dachshund woes.  There was a lot of change in a small space of time- a lot of "living".  

My family and I went to Montefiascone in May for me to learn and enjoy a residency with Artegiro Contemporary Fine Art.  Our hosts and friends, Damien and Renata Summo-O'Connell and their dear children, were gracious to help with settling us in and supporting the project.  

Montefiascone is on a hill, a mountain.  The weather changes often and quickly.  Sometimes the clouds were far above you, and sometimes below you.  The people of Montefiascone are justifiably proud of their town.  We stayed right next to the Cathedral-the Cattedrale di Santa Margherita ( which has the 3rd largest dome in Italy) and just below the breathtaking view from the Rock of The Popes.  This tiny town had Slow Food member eateries and a wonderful enoteca called "Volo di Vino". 

Returning to Italy after a few years absence was exciting.  I'm always surprised that my Italian (such as it is) hasn't shriveled completely in the meantime.  I'm also surprised at how much pleasure I get from working on the language. I feel actually exhilarated when I am able to communicate successfully and build relationships- to understand and be understood!  I was happy to trade the initial shock of being in a different country for the slower, comfortable feeling of returning "home" in a way.  After living in Italy- part of me changed forever and not a day goes by that I don't think about it.  I think everyone who has spent a decent amount of time in another country has that same feeling.

This little painting is just under 8x10in. and is painted near the  center of town.

Outside Regula's stone studio

 One of the definite highlights of the trip were all the wonderful people I met.  The studio was out of a dream-complete with artists in and out and a talented sculptor owner-Adrianna.  She gave me roses from her garden which I painted one rainy day.

 Angelo, a photographer, 

www.artegiro.com

, took me on more than 1 memorable excursion, patiently hearing me out in Italian.  Simone and Gabriele are the owners of Volo di Vino and a talented duo of taste and writing.  Quinto gave us a book he's written about figures in a fresco in one of the ancient churches and enriched our experience.  Not to mention sculptor, Regula Zwicky,  who inspired me, Rosanna, who invited me to her home and took me landscape painting in a nut tree grove, and  Renata, my dear host, who is always an inspiration and herself an aesthete and cultural artist.

Painting Yindi in the studio

The night view from my window