April 26 - It's so exciting to show the results of paintings created by the artists who were at the Watercolor Society of Indiana workshop two weeks ago. After the explanation of the process and my demo, each artist worked to create her own masterpiece, using bits and pieces of masking tape to 'save' shapes and values as she went. All the work seen here is transparent watercolor on paper. Realize that some tweaking will be done to several of these, since most of the photos were taken immediately after the tape had been removed, before adjustments could be made. My apologies to these artists if the color is not quite true.
By NORMA DAVIS - What an unique view up onto the deck, enhanced by strong values changes of sunlight and shadow and the poetic use of color. The textures are fantastic! This painting is a half sheet of paper - lots of taping and painting involved. Today I got a card in the mail from Norma with this on the front of it! Thank you so much.
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By LINDA BACHOFNER - How I wish you could see this in real life. There is such a powerful emotion in this sensitive painting. The subtle color and value changes make the viewer almost be able to hear the water lapping against the sides of the gondolas. Also on a half sheet of paper, created with Linda's favorite palette of colors. You have to agree that this shows the often painted Venice in a special new way.
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By JAN BROADDUS - This is an extraordinary painting with an immensely effective pattern of dark and light value shapes. The broken lines created by the paint leaking around the taped shapes add to the jazzy feeling of this old New Orleans sight. This painting has such a 'WOW' factor to it due to Jan's choices of colors and care with composition. It is stunning and on a full sheet of paper, too!
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By LEE PAPAI - Although created with such a limited palette, this painting evokes a strong response from the viewer. The warmth in the focal area (actually warmer than shown here) really pulls the viewer into the painting, and the incredible textures created by the batik/tape effect add exciting interest when seen up close. It seems as if we are peeking through some trees at an intimate moment. Shhhhhh. Don't scare the fish away! Also on a half sheet of paper, but done using the green frog painters' tape, possibly causing more leaking/batiking effect.
By JUDY GLORE - This painting involved many, many layers of tape and paint, and Judy made just a few adjustments to it before calling it completed. What an outstanding design of curved reflective lines against the man made structures by the canal! Painting 'water' with this taping technique is challenging, but this one works so well, and it's on a FULL sheet of hot press Arches. Congratulations, Judy!
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By BARB STARK - This, too, arrived in the mail today for critique. The glow around the potted plant and buildings captures the light of Italy so well, and the illusion of a figure in the lower part of the painting adds interest, also. When the foreground wall is darkened, the painting will have even more depth. And what a beautiful use of warm and cool temperatures to move our eye through the picture. Also on a half sheet.
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By MARCIA RELLER -This has to be the most layers of tape and paint ever done with this process - 9 layers! - but well worth it for the dynamic effects Marcia achieved. She still plans to make several adjustments to the painting. The depth and intrigue of colors and textures behind the organic shapes of the flowers and leaves on this painting have resulted in an eye catching painting. And it's also a FULL sheet of paper. Can't wait to see the final results.
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LINDA MEYER-WRIGHT - This journey through a wooded wonderland may be complete at this point... a bit playful, yet mysterious, with an abstract quality that Linda does so well. The batik-look adds just the right amount of texture to this colorful painting. Some of us at the workshop wondered if that maybe Hansel and Gretel had been there??? Also a half sheet of paper.
By ARLENE WHEELER - Capturing emotion is one of the requirements for a good painting, and I laughed out loud when I saw this delightful creature. The structural straight lines certainly make a perfect contrast for the voluptuous, rounded shapes on the pig. It's great to have so much fun with art. Even the color choices here are playfully fun. This is nearly a half sheet. also.
By SUSAN PORTER - This is another one that I wish you could see in real life. The poppies seem strongly illuminated from behind, and the background textures look like a rich tapestry. Slightly abstracted, the painting certainly captures the sense of a garden full of bloom. On a half sheet of paper, too. Most of these took about three full days of work to complete.
KATHIE RICE's own koi pond was the inspiration for this painting. She's also collaged in some rice papers to add to the illusion of water on this large painting - a full sheet of Arches. The intensity of the colors certainly adds a summertime feeling to this vibrant, whimsical painting. Thanks for sending it, Kathie.
Feel free to leave a comment for these artists. The work they did in just four days was terrific!
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Here's another partially finished painting, an abstract, by JUDY GLORE. Many of the artists worked on a chaos-to-control type painting also, using the tape as a resist between layers of paint.
WSI is offering 3 more workshops this year at the same facility I taught at, near Castleton, on the north east side of Indianapolis. The Birgit O'Connor workshop has a waiting list, and Mary Ann Beckwith will be teaching there on July 13-16, with George James teaching a YUPO workshop starting September 21. Having previously taken workshops from both of them, I HIGHLY recommend Mary Ann Beckwith if you want to stretch your creativity and would very strongly recommend George James if you want to learn new approaches to design and composition while exploring some exciting, new surfaces to paint on. Happy painting.
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