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Artist's Statement
My subjects are landscapes that I have seen either near home or while
traveling. A bit of a scene will catch my eye-usually the way the pieces
fit together-and I know that's THE PICTURE. I know what I want to remember
and share in my work.
While I usually use photographs to remind me of the paintings suggested
to me by the scenery, I do not use the photographs in a literal way. I
am more interested in the emotional content than on the particular pattern
of light and color that fell on film or sensor.
When I start a painting, I look for the combination of materials and colors
that will convey the image I have in mind. Most of my work is watercolor,
though I also do some acrylics. I love the transparency of the watercolor
and feel a similarity between it and the art glass that I enjoy. I have
always loved textured papers and find the cold pressed and rough watercolor
papers a pleasure. I also work on Yupo or on Fredrix Watercolor Canvas.
I choose whichever support will be most compatible with the techniques
I want to use.
While value contrast is basic to a satisfying painting, color is what
drives my process. I choose 3-6 colors of paint that best express the
mood and character of the subject. Working with this limited palette unifies
the painting and keeps the colors harmonious. Once I have chosen the colors
and paper or canvas, I sketch the scene and let the paint flow.
For more about me and how I came to be a painter, read an interview
in the August 5 issue of The Successful
Dilettante. The ezine is written by Susan Henderson, a creativity
coach who provided a wonderful sounding board for me when I was deciding
whether painting was a hobby or a career.
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