In this class, we are going to play and experiment with color by allowing it to organically flow in water to create our final pieces. I love the serendipitous nature of creating in this way. Allowing the paint to ebb and flow in ways you couldn’t replicate with a paintbrush and trusting that whatever you end up with you will love. I think that is why I love cutting up my art so much… it takes the pressure off when creating… and this organic flow process is that too – it takes the pressure off. You might even say it is a bit therapeutic… because there is something so relaxing and satisfying about watching paint spread out in the water.
I am going to start out a little earlier in the process for this class and let you see my early failures. Usually, when I get an idea, I create tons of samples until I get to a project I like, with colors I love. Then I will film the class, and all of my samples and larger pieces are pretty. In this class, I want you to know that we all create ugly art to get to our best art. I am going to include you in my process of figuring out colors, paper, how much water is good, etc… I want you to see my thinking as I create many small pieces and the failures I had getting to the bigger pieces that I absolutely love. I want you to know that it’s ok. That is part of the process of creating. Part of the process that is frustrating and the point where you might have given up. I want you to see how I take each experiment to get me to the next experiment and the decisions that led me to, to get to our larger beautiful pieces.
This class is for you if:
- You love learning new techniques for your art
- You are interested in learning more about foraging and creating unique tools for mark-making
- You love watching how others approach their art practice
Supplies:
I’ve kept the supplies pretty simple in this class. My goal is to create beautiful abstracts with some wonderful color choices. Letting the ebb and flow of the colors blend and bleed into one another. Once your piece is dry, you may decide to then further add to your piece with some of your favorite mark-making techniques.
- Watercolor paper – I’m using Canson Coldpress 140lb in class for the starter projects. I then move to Arches cold press 300lb paper – I like the heavier paper when I am using lots of water – since it can handle the water and not buckle. You are welcome to experiment and play with the lighter-weight papers. I just like to introduce you to other options you might consider if you decide you love these techniques and want to experiment.
- Acrylic inks. I am using the inks in class and play in a variety of colors (you are welcome to substitute inks for some supplies you have on hand like watercolors, acrylic high-flow paint, acrylic fluid paint, and possibly regular acrylic paint, watercolor inks, etc… I have a video where I show you how I would use some of these other paint types in class.)
- A few watercolor brushes to put your water on the paper and push color when you need to. I like using a larger mop brush and hake brushes for this.
