I just took this watercolor out, since I am almost done with Yvonne's portrait. I put this one away a month ago to get away from it because I wasn't sure I liked the way it was turning out. Now it is growing on me again!
This scene was begun with my spraying and splashing watercolors to make the "swamp gas" type background.... Then I splattered resist around in a pattern to simulate both insects flying around the tree, and gas rising from the waters.
Started in watercolor, on 300 pound paper, I then used some acrylic colors where I wanted more density and "punch". I also began outlining with a fine-line ink pen the 1,000 or so little areas above the water where I had rubbed the "resist" off. (Aren't all artists a little "mad"?)
Below the water I decided to do a "cutaway" showing what is below the water, and I still have some resist on little bait fish that I will define later on. (After all, the painting wasn't hard enough, and I am sure that for my 100 hours of work I might actually get $100.00!... hah!) There is a lot of work to do, but now with a fresh eye I am ready to do it.... (I need at least 3 paintings to work on at once.... Most artists will tell you that...)
Here's my crude beginning of "below the water"... hah!
It will be very intriguing once I figure out how to do it! (Oh, don't worry, I will!)
Don' you just love the way the light shines on this artwork, making it seem to "come alive"? I almost changed the location of my "photo shoot", so I wouldn't get the direct morning light on the art, but then I enjoyed the way the light played on the paper!
This almost fills the 22" x 30" paper!
I better get busy, but always have time to send Love to you all from that Wild Old Lady who paints in Florida!
