Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Bicycle Shadows

Introducing "Bicycle Shadows", one of my latest works. It was created on a half sheet of Arches 140 pound paper. This piece, as most of my latest work, was "poured".
A friend recently suggested that I come up with a different name for my process than "poured", as I don't really pour the paint. To create these works I use a value scale of 1 through 6, 1 being white and six being the closest color to black I can create from the colors on my palette.
I first create the drawing, trace the pencil sketch and then do a value study in various shades of gray and black marker. Then I transfer the drawing to my watercolor paper and mask the white areas. At this point I wet the entire sheet of paper with a puddle of water and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. Then, using a large round brush, either 14 or 16, I dip into the paint on my palette and dribble and stroke it gently onto the very wet paper. I use three primary colors for each application: my favorites are New Gamboge, Quinacridone Magenta, and French Ultramarine Blue. I apply the colors next to one another, not directly on top of one another, then I tip the board that holds my paper (I tape the paper to a foam core board with 2-inch masking tape) and I allow the colors to gently blend a little. The first application provides the 2 and 3 levels of value on my painting.
As I proceed through the painting I allow this to dry completely - usually overnight. Then, I mask the level two and three values that I want to save, and again wet the paper and apply the pigments. Each time I apply stronger and stronger pigments, never brushing to disturb the layers of paint below. I continue on with the process: dry, apply masking, wet the paper, apply the pigment. This continues until I reach those darkest values of deep color.
It's a fun, messy, and time-consuming process that produces colors and glow that I have not been able to achieve in any other manner.
If you have any ideas for a name for this technique I would love to hear them. My husband and I will go over the suggestions and if we pick yours, I will send you a small print of one of my paintings using this technique!
I would love to hear from you!

3 comments:

Cynthia Schelzig said...

"Layer upon Layer"....what a wonderful process and thanks so much for explaining how you did this. Great stuff!

J.B. Chicoine said...

This is really stunning. I love to hear about your process...

I wish I had a suggestion for naming your technique...perhaps if I tried it out for myself, I'd find such inspiration!

artis1111 said...

It looks wonderful!! I will have to try this. Developing...because you slowly come to the end stage ,just like developing a photograph. I hope I win!!!!!Kathy