Icky Paper + Icky Paint = Icky Watercolor
11:16 AM |
| Watercolor, gel medium, gesso, and tissue paper in Handbook Watercolor Sketchbook |
Wondering why I'm posting a sub-par image? Because I haven't painted anything else lately. In our family, we have something we affectionately (not!) call the Black Ass (BA). It simply means that you have a bad case of the blues, your mood is quite dark (black) and occasionally(?) you act like an......ass. BA has a particularly negative effect on painting.
Whereas I did not get roses for Valentine's Day (a good thing), I have received them in the past for no good reason (a very good thing). I thought about all the roses that were given for the holiday and wondered how many folks save a bud like I do to dry.
This little bud is a few years old and I wanted to capture it as a memory. This didn't turn out quite as expected due to flawed choices at the beginning. I'll try it again though as the experiment worked....I recently made a purchase that came wrapped in some fun tissue paper. I saved it for use in a collage.
The piece you see is a very small section cut out and pasted to the page with gel medium. Once dry, I added clear gesso over the top so I could watercolor over the "tissue tag." I need to do a bit more experimenting, but the idea is solid.
Why the black mood? We've have a very dear friend that has been given a rather grim prognosis of congestive heart failure and we'll likely be losing them soon. My heart breaks just typing the words. I recently read an article the said our relationships don't end with death....the relationship merely changes just like it would if someone divorced, moved away, etc. I find a great deal of comfort in that thought.
If I'm not around much this week, please bear with me. I'll be back.
14 Creative Thought(s)
So sorry to hear about your friend. I am at an age where lots of my contemporaries are dealing with health issues. It is a bummer!
ReplyDeleteI had ONE handbook journal and did not like the paper either.... no more for me!
I am not painting but packing. I'm moving in 2 weeks to a senior residential community... 500 sq ft... lots of downsizing going on!
e
Yes, Ms. E, it is definitely a bummer!
ReplyDeleteThis handbook journal has watercolor paper in it rather than just plain drawing paper and it's still a challenge. And I know better so I've no one to blame.
My husband's grandmother moved into a senior community 5 years and she absolutely loves it. In fact, we all think that's the reason she's doing so well at 94...she stays active and involved. Good luck to you—that's a lot of work!
I have some of that icky paper. I hate to hear about your friends prognosis. It isn't a pretty thought. Big Hugs.
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs to you as you proceed through BA territory. Take good care of yourself and we'll all be sending good thoughts your way.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your friend. I can certainly understand you being in a very dark mood because of news like this. Maybe that darkness just didn't care about good materials or paint just now. Maybe this rose fits just how you feel now and should be preserved as such. You'll feel better and make a better picture when the time is right. (I still think it's good from my point of view). Take care and enjoy your friend as much as you can just now.
ReplyDeleteTimaree
So sorry about your friend. That makes for a very difficult time.
ReplyDeleteSo sad about your friend. Enjoy the time you have left and make every moment count, the painting will wait. I personally cannot do anything artistic when I am emotionally upset about something. When my first husband died I didn't and couldn't paint for a year. And yet, for others it is their escape.
ReplyDeleteOkay, too much information so I am leaving you with hugs! Big hugs!!
This looks great from here. I loved dried roses like this. Sorry about your Friend. I do know how you're feeling tho as we just heard that a dear friend has found out she has ovarian cancer. Its to far now to do much. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteWord veri is darkd..sure is.
So sorry Laure it's a dark place to be in - sorry about your friend. I personally love your painting, I think you captured the "dried out" effect of the flower perfectly. Sending peace and light your way...
ReplyDeleteOh, I don't think it's sub-par at all--I think it's beautiful, Laure! You're way too hard on yourself. It looks gorgeous to me--I love your treatment of it here--it looks great.
ReplyDeleteI just lost an aunt, and one of our students tragically died in a motorcycle accident this past weekend, so spend time doing what's important to you--
thinking of you, Laure...
xo
Thanks to all of you for your kind comments and support. This too shall pass......
ReplyDelete...so sorry to hear about your friend. My aunt is fighting cancer right now and is very ill...I don't like it...
ReplyDeleteI think your BA is clouding your interpretation of your flower. I knew right away it was a dried bud and thought it was beautiful...
I see you mention gel medium and gesso in your tag...can you do a post on how you use those one day?
I'm so sorry to hear this bad news. I do hope your friend has a few good years left and possibly many. You are right about the relationship changing. Some days I feel my husband is still merely at work. The other night the refrigerator kicked on while I was watching TV and I thought he was coming through the garage door. Cherish the time you have.
ReplyDeleteFunny you should talk about paint and paper. Just last night in my art class I learned the difference between good and bad paper. Boy, there really is one! Now that I have painted on "good" paper I may never go back.
I am so sorry to hear about your friend, Laure. I think your rose is gorgeous, regardless.....
ReplyDeletexoxo- Julie
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