Layers Upon Layers
Watercolour painting, for me, is more of a long meditative process. I wonder at the ability of some watercolour artists to pump out paintings so fast, I, for one, take a minimun 3 wks for one painting...usually more. I have to let the layers of the paint dry thoroughly before applying another while working on one part of the painting and then another, a bit all over, the background, the detail, the washy bits too...it is a very concentrated effort for me, not just a "drink wine until midnight, listening to classical loud" kind of thing! (Although that can be fun too, especially with acrylic and/or soft chalk pastel).
To have a piece of art that I truly feel proud of I must gear my days around the painting. I must go to bed at 8pm to read for an hour waking at 6am with the sun, have my bath and coffee and then sit down with solid creative energy flowing, which it does after 9 hrs sleep. I have to get up every 30 min or so to make a smoothie or another coffee, check emails, write a note to someone then sit down again. I usually can only do 3 hr stints, then have to take off in the afternoon for some sun time by pool or to meet friends for a chat but must be home by 3pm to get in a few more random 30 min stints before bedtime. I can only do this for about 3 days in a row then I need a complete break not looking at the painting. I can't let more than 5 days go by without working on it though, otherwise I loose my enthusiasm. I guess I am an academic at heart, not really a true wild and crazy artist, I need self direction and will power and time schedules in my life. I get a lot done because of this and have been self directed for most of my life being an only child and directing my life to be the best it can. I feel the layers of watercolour represent the many layers in my life as the colours impose themselves on top of each other creating colours not readily made. I am excited to see the finished project of the Cacao I am working on at the moment but enjoying the layed effects I create on the paper and in my life as the project continues. Thanks for reading!!! I wonder if some artists out there feel the same way but we all have our unique abilities!
