Thursday, May 21, 2009

practice makes wet

(5x7)

I should know (myself) better than to complete a drawing and not jump right in with the painting. Having finished my two 11x15 sketches Monday afternoon, and put them aside to think it over after a bad start on one, I'm afraid to paint them!
I did the study above to trick myself into not being scared.
Actually, it was fun ... I let the paper get very wet and just kept working it: when the blue ran into her chest, I flooded it with water and lifted; when the shirt ran into the leg, I left it.
I was also trying to work some neutrals in, and maybe you'll be surprised if I say I think I did!
I've always enjoyed e.e. cummings's poems; they feel so good to say, like, "anyone lived in a pretty how town/with up so floating many bells down"--say it; it's pure pleasure, like wet paints.

Here's a poem I happened on recently; seems to fit this post. (Poor Molly!)

maggie and milly and molly and may
by E. E. Cummings

maggie and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)
and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;
and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.
For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea
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17 comments:

A Brush with Color said...

Oh, I love that poem. I have several cummings books, and always love his stuff. And YES--you got some neutrals into this--you really did great. Lots of water and loose-looking, too. I particularly love the shadows on her face here and the left leg colors and how they blended. Yum! Great job, Laura!

Joyfulartist said...

I love wet and oozy watercolors, they just describe the medium so well and especially when the subject is by the sea. And the poem makes me want to find a cummings book for myself.

julie king said...

the piece is just delightful, laura. don't you just love letting go and experimenting? the b=poem is one of my favorites. i particularly like "as small as a world and as large as alone". poetic! hee hee

Annelein said...

love, love, love, the looseness of this piece...the bleeding, the saved out letters on the dress...the dark shadow across the face under the hat! Wonderful..

Jennifer Lawson said...

Wow, this is amazing, Laura! I can't stop looking at it. I love how it all flows and still you kept the letters on her dress—I would have lost those early on. Wonderful colors too.

I have to ask—what kind of paper do you use?

Laura Trevey said...

I love that poem, and I love this watercolor!!

Hope you are well ~~

xo Laura

Mineke Reinders said...

I can only agree: I love this too. It is all "of a piece", she fits perfectly into her wet surroundings - and yes, I see the neutrals and think they enhance the brighter colors wonderfully. I sympathize with your anxiety about painting the previously drawn pieces. I try to draw as little as I can get away with, because every extra minute spent on drawing causes the anxiety level to rise when it comes to painting... Fear of ruining all that hard work, I guess. Good idea to loosen up this way. Thanks for the poem too, I did not know it. The last verse speaks to me especially.

Sharon said...

The perfect poem for this beautiful splashy painting, which I like A LOT! It's really the water in watercolor that makes it such a great medium.

RH Carpenter said...

I love this painting! So wonderful and loose and free :)

Carol said...

I agree, I love the poem & LOVE the painting!

Cathy Gatland said...

Well I have nothing original to add, but I love it too! Gorgeous wet colours and flowings, and the lightstruck whites and details show just the right amount of control - really beautifully done Laura. I've just got back from a few days near the sea - sadly didn't have time to lose, or find myself there this time - but love this poem that says it all so well.

cathyswatercolors said...

Loose and free yet controlled love it.Just enough.

Teresa said...

I really love that poem (and I'll be on the beautiful, tranquil, Outer Banks island of Ocracoke for a few days next weekend...Woo Hoo), and though your painting doesn't have a lot of detail it DOES have a lot of presence. Good job!

William Evertson said...

Delightfully wet and appropriate for the subject (and poem)

HeartFire said...

Just wonderful, love the loose nature of the woman's figure...

Anonymous said...

Really nice use of a limited palette. I also like the loose approach. I feel it makes the painting flow and the subject interesting.
Jean

Cindi said...

good idea!!! trick yourself more .. looks like you were having fun and it shows in the painting!!