Moving to the Dark Side

"Only One Winner"

I am writing my second book and getting lost in so many wonderful new exciting sections. Last night I could hardly wait for morning to come to work further on an experiment with darks in a new collection of watercolours.

Every professional artist must look back and see moments when they knew they were evolving or turning a corner.This is such a moment. It's almost as though someone has turned a light  on in my head. I want to scream "Eureka" and  yell from the roof tops that I have discovered what I was looking for. And yet I still feel very much like a child in a candy store knowing there is far more to uncover in this incredible medium.

Why am I so excited?

I have been going to exhibitions for years as well as looking at art online and  in doing so have become fascinated in the dark sections of many watercolour paintings. But I have been really unhappy when I work with neat pigment or heavy layers as the colours always without fail seem to appear as very flat. This is why when I demonstrate you will never see me use black shades, for example, for eyes in animals. I always use a variety of vibrant colour to depict a feeling of life.

But now I want a sense of impact, drama and power in certain paintings. Layers of colour alone just weren't giving me what I wanted. I have spent hours playing with colour combinations, weeks and months studying pigment interaction and finally I have a result I am thrilled with.  The technique is arduous, time consuming but so exciting when it all comes together. I am losing the granulation effect at times of certain pigments but the bold result from contrasts is amazing.

I am so enthusiastic about the three paintings that are in my studio this week with amazing dark sections  acting in complete contrast to the gentle soft watercolours I am so often known for. I will be writing well today! I feel so enthused but in my mind I already see where this experiment is leading me.  I am well aware that the successful experiment of tomorrows dreams always far out wieghs the euphorious sensation of todays.

The Horse Racing scene above is entitled " Only One Winner".  I feel this new chapter for my next book could be a winner too! In life as artists we all win each time we pick up a brush. Because the paintings that don't work as we expected them too lead us to the paintings that do. Only by consistently loving what we do can we have days like this and when we do they are so worth the wait!

Happy Painting!

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Exciting Colourful Experiments .

While I am working on serious collections for new exhibitions I am also writing  a second book. For me  my enthusiasm and passion is the drive behind my work.That feeling of always creating something new and finding even better ways to capture it on paper is a daily challenge that thrills me. I have excitement in each new idea with  the sense of childhood when you first see snow or eat chocolate! Imagine that glorious feeling.

I have workshops coming up where the emphasis will be very much on looking at ways to bring life into our paintings.Not simply gain a recognisable image but have viewers looking at our creations and saying " Wow"! Each artist attending the sessions  will leave inspired to paint non stop and this is my goal.

To close my painting session last night  I took several pieces of paper and  lay colourful washes on them.. The effects to me were stunning. I left my studio on a high and couldn't wait to see each one this morning.

 Vibrant Colour Experiment 1.

I used every colour on my palette and  literally took time to simply play and unwind from the days compositions for my next show. Like a child I just had fun and loved every minute of exploration!

 

I placed cling film on some sections and allowed them to dry overnight.

 This close up shows wonderful patterns suitable for leaves before the  wrap is removed.

 How many paintings did I work on in  almost thirty minutes?  I didn't count! I just had fun, great fun!

 One area of my studio from last nights fun session to end the days painting!

This morning I am greeted with a huge choice of which experiment to paint first and then  start on wonderful new large pieces of white paper to collate all my favourite ideas to create a magnificent centre piece for a show!

I am excited!

I have brilliant ideas for my new book also which these small experiments will play a tiny part in.  It is what happens next that makes these experiments sing and I cannot wait to move forward!

My favourite.........

I see primroses  bursting to life in Spring.This will be a thrilling painting when complete.

Life truly is wonderful when you remove all pressure to paint a masterpiece. Bringing an element of fun into your work  really does show in your results. Even if you focus on one serious painting what you do in bewteen painting it can boost your spirits and keep your work fresh, alive and exciting.

And I need to get writing while I am so motivated and flying high  on happiness from paintings full of colour,passion,energy and most of all love!

"If you love what you are doing it shows" J.H.

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