Line of Trees Near Fort Mason
10" x 10" watercolor
Arches 100% cotton cold press paper

Thank you, artist Howard Jones: your demo painting of a tree could be life-changing. Yes, I've thought this before with other artists, and I know this painting doesn't show it yet, but I feel like Jones' demo unlocks some of the keys for loosening up as a watercolorist. I won't go into detail; I'll just continue to practice some of his techniques and see what develops.

I've painted three compositions in the last two days, none of which makes my heart sing. But I've been reviewing wisdom from Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking, by David Bayles and Ted Orland, and this passage reminds me that these "blah" paintings are necessary:

"The function of the overwhelming majority of your artwork is simply to teach you how to make the small fraction of your artwork that soars. One of the basic and difficult lessons every artist must learn is that even the failed paintings are essential....[Y]ou learn to make your work by making your work, and a great many of the pieces you make along the way will never stand out as finished art. The best you can do is make art you care about--and lots of it!" 

So today a big thank you goes to Howard Jones for new ideas and to Bayles and Orland for inspiration to continue.   

Canna Alternative

 

Canna Study
watercolor and ink on
Stonehenge 100% cotton Aqua Hotpress

Not satisfied with the last canna painting, I tried this version just to loosen it up. I put a few lines down with a stick dipped in permanent black ink, then sloshed the bright pinks, oranges and yellows for the flower. Probably should have left it at that, as the background got too dark and busy. But will move on to the next one.