I
don't really know how to start with explaining myself. I am pretty contradictory
and don't know of any category I can neatly fit myself into. But I still
like biographies - reading & writing them - I've been endlessly fascinated
by people, by their psyche, what motivates them, their deeper consciousness,
potentialities, etc. I like to know what is behind the creative outpouring
of the very many wonderful works in galleries, on the Web, in books, etc.,
and if you are reading this, you maybe are fascinated by biographies,
also. :)
I'll start with the simple things... Many people write to me and ask me how I paint, which mediums I use, etc. Most of the paintings here are watercolors. I think a lot of the public has the impression that watercolors = pastel landscapes. When I was first getting a handle on watercolor technique, I used to get a little frustrated while rifling through watercolor books and only finding the same washed-out green & brown hills and trees. There was always something inside of me that wanted something shinier, more vivid and of what is not seen rather than what is. Not to knock artists who are into realism. I really admire the technique, patience and tenacity that many of these amazing people have acquired. I approach strict realism as just study, to help me with the art I really love creating. I agree wholeheartedly with Paul Klee (one of my favorite visual artists) when he said, "Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible." I can be proud of the patience and effort I put into something very realistic, but I am usually not enthralled with the results. Anyway, the watercolors I use are the Cotman line of Winsor & Newton. I only use tubes, never cakes It's impossible to build up a lot of color or vividness using cakes. I wish I loved cakes instead because it would be so much tinier to store & pack - I'm very "into" streamlining my possessions, which is something I will get to. But - sigh - I will have to adjust. |
I tried using watercolor bottle paints for awhile too. They give a great color, but unfortunately, the colors don't last forever. Before computers, watercolor bottles were a popular medium for graphic designers and illustrators, because their work was meant to be stored away instead of hung up for view. They are lightfast, which means that light will interfere with their chemicals and watercolor paintings done with bottle pigments will turn various shades of gray in time. |