A

PASSION FOR

WATER
COLOR

PAINTING THE INNER EXPERIENCE

STEFAN

DRAUGHON

$21.95
U.S.A.

PASSION FOR

WATER
COLOR
STEFAN DRAUGHON
Believing that strong feelings

strong

art,

make

the author a versatile

and psychologist suggests ways

tor

artist

for

painters to scratch the surface of their

unconscious to generate powerful emotions

and unleash more meaningful work.

The book encourages

reach into their inner

readers to

self

a3

through

wide-ranging observation of others,

of animals, of food, flowers, holy places,
real

and imagined landscapes, and

by tapping into childhood memories.

Working with these

varied subjects and

stimulating approaches to them, plus

the fluid properties of the watercolor

medium

as

it

drips,

forms puddles, and

responds to every stroke of the brush,

the reader learns
ings

from the

how

inside,

to develop paint-

with inner

life as

the model, and from the outside, with

nature as the model.

144 pages. 5 'A x 9 'A" (13 x 23 cm).

175 color and 14 black-and-white
illustrations. Index.

to

PASSION FOR

WATER
COLOR

PASSION FOR

WATER
COLOR
PAINTING THE INNER EXPERIENCE

TEXT AND ART BY STEFAN

DRAUGHON

WATSON-GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS

NEW YORK

FOR

DA

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank you

to

those

who made

this

book possible:

my

to all

students and teachers,

also to Lewis Falb, Henry Spitz, Sarah Lewis, Marika Krech, Bernard Kirsch, Robin

Powell, John Schwartz, Cecile Stolbof,

to

Candace Raney,

ness

to this

and

to

so

many

of Watson-Guptill, for her faith in

book, and for her help

in

giving

it

others. But most especially

me and my

shape. And

to

work, for her open-

my husband,

David

Hertzberg, without whose love and intelligence this book could never have been.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stefan Draughon holds degrees as Master of Fine Arts

School of Design and as Ph.D.

taught courses on topics
at

New

York University, the

Recent solo exhibitions

book were

in this

SoHo

in

at

in

"Art

New

Psychology from

in

New

Painting from Parsons

York University. She has

and Psychology," which she designed and developed,

School, and at the

of her paintings

Ceres Gallery and

Rhode

and drawings
at the

Island School of Design.

some of which

Broome

Street Gallery

are reprinted

in

Manhattan's

district.

Senior Acquisitions Editor, Candace Raney

Edited by Robbie

BR BR

Capp

Designed by Areta Buk

ND2130

Graphic Production by Hector Campbell

2000x

.D73
Text set

in

Berling

2000 Stefan Draughon

Cataloging-in-Publication Data for this book

is

available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 0-8230-0102-4

All rights

reserved.

No

form or by any means

part of this publication

may be reproduced

sion of the publisher.

2000

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Printed

in

08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00

Hong Kong

used

in

any

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or information-storage-and-retrieval systems

First printing,

or

without the written

permis-

Contents
PREFACE

INTRODUCTION
one

The Basics
A

two

s s

m ptions

This Book

12

Medium

23

of

The Watercolor

Materials and Techni q

it

24

es

Approaches

three Subjects, Approaches,

Issues

and

the

41

They Raise

SUBJECTS ARE EVERYWHERE: FOOD

42

Approaches

4 6

TOOK CEOSELY: TREE

5 2

Approaches

CUTE

5 7

NOT ENOUGH: ANIMALS

IS

62

Approaches

74

OBSERVING AND BEING OBSERVED:

THE OTHER PERSON

78

Approaches
IT'S IN

8 6

THE DETAILS: CHILDHOOD

MEMORY

88

96

Approaches

WHO AM

I?

SELF-PORTRAIT

Approaches
IS

ART BEAUTIFUL

10
1

FLOWER

MAKING CONTACT:
PUTTING

Appro a c h

four

10 4

HOLY PLACl

h e

IT

112

Approaches

Ap pro a

98

ALL TOGETHER: LANDSCAP1

e s

116

\2\

124
1

J 3

Walking on Freshly Fallen Snow

YOU'VE FOUND YOUR LATH: W1IM NOW?

137

GETTING LOST AGAIN:

GETTING BACK AGAIN

142

INDEX

144

138

P
I

read a preface to find out

when you
Even

if

if

are ready to dig a

you've had

hook

little

may

then just scan "Materials and

Techniques," and
to the heart of

move

my

directly

hook,

"Subjects, Approaches, and the

Issik-s

my

They Raise"followed by

concluding thoughts.
It is

scary to find your

path as an

artist,

own

rather than

follow established guidelines,

but the rewards make

while. At
life,

to see

what

watercolor

worth-

certain point in

decided to take

it

my

chance-

could do with

my own

way. Tired

of trying to please a teacher,

needed to please myself.

I

find

path

my own wayand

is

When
that

repeatedly found and

is

for

me. This hook

deeper into painting

some experience

teacher or From hooks, you

still

in

is

for

watercolor.

painting, have studied with

want

to read

"The

you

Basics,"

hut

and refound againI

lost

whole and

satisfied

and

myself,

feel

with

see painting as

meaningful. Following another's

I

way

and secure;

felt safe

was part of

group. But

was separated from myself.

For me,

it

has been a perpet-

ual tradeoff

between belong-

and standing alone.

ing

Thoughts of being true

to myself
lated. Yet,
I

make me
I

have found that

when

never feel alone

what I'm

like

feel iso-

doing. For me,

being cut off from myself

my

and

development

painter

more

is

painful than

being physically or
cally alone.

as a

And

artisti-

always

I've

found like-minded people,

new

friends, or altered rela-

tionships with people I've

known

for years.

a while,

may

It

take

and that in-between

time can be lonely, but

haven't seen any

way

to

avoid going through those

periods of what

call

"regrouping," of losing
aspects of myself as
for

new

ones.

reach

Without

process of change,

some

this

feel less

alive

and more unsatisfied

with

my

My

life.

husband

ried a process.

says

He

he mar-

did.

And

change can be hard, but staying

nation, like imitating myself,

Change

is

not for everyone.

still

and

Is it

feels

that's

for

worse to me.

even scarier for

you? See what you

It

feels like stag-

me

than change.

find.

Introduction
I

walk between

chology or saw

a client,

my background

or

that

lite

and psychology. Even when

art

was an

in science.

with time,

pleasure o{ finding

watercolor

my own

my

its

medium
own

my

tor

way.

It

my

my medium and

the surface to which

reflects each

an imprint just as each experience

microcosm

me much
I

it,

of

Its

is

color

the touch
true

is

contact between

applied. Every stroke leaves

impression on

in life leaves its

Doing watercolor

of

not therapy, but

it

us.

It

has taught

about the world and about myself.

didn't think

and

life.

is

it

is

currents, to the angle

air

markeach recorded

it

more

It,

forms puddles,

drips,

ever-changing feelings.

and transparent;

is

adventure.

working surface, and most especially to every nuance

brush, and thus, to

always

art. I've

unabashedly seek the

vulnerable to environmental temperature and

of

farther From

path of "walking on freshly fallen snow."

the perfect

is

But now,

intellect.

than any other medium, uoes

of the

moved

I've

in psy-

scientistin spite

connected to science toward one that centers on

emphasized emotion over

And

than

artist rather

And

taught topics

all

this

out beforehand; not

at

Yet,

all.

have never tired of working with watercolor.

consciously thought:
in large ptirt

consist oj

with water or even,

should do watercolor.

Not

at

all.

97 percent water
Most

it,

felt

certainly never

or The earth

is

covered

tonus are water lifetherefore,

life

Instead,

knew

thought:

the
it

way

now.

looks.

it

No

way

love the

And

love

question oil paint

gives magnificent color

ture. Yet,

moves,

it

still

and

tex-

hate the very quali-

do

ties that

permit

it

viscosity

and

density.

its

to

that: its
I

cannot

stand shoving the paint around,

having

it

stay put.

interaction

need an

between

me

and

fluid watercolor.

Of course,

don't

mind

that

watercolor is please forgive the

pun the wave

of the future.

It

avoids solvents with their envi-

ronmental dangers.

It

doesn't

require excessive physical strength, so

throughout
But the

even

life,

when we

medium too

to emotional experience.
a

passion for

And

I'd like to

This
a series

Passion

it.

am

range of expression,

its full

It is

is

powerful because

potentially

contagious.

is

book supplemented by my
of ideas about

most powerful

have

it

will receive

it is

sensitive

for those with

passion for watercolor.

how

paintings and drawings presents

to explore the possibilities of watercolor.

my own

experience in making

not necessarily aware of them while

ing sacrosanct about any

presented.

of choice

share that with you.

These ideas emerge from

I

medium

have aches and pains.

deserves. Watercolor

it

can be the

often given short-shrift by critics needs to be

trusted and explored. Given

the devotion

it

one

idea, or

make the

art.

about the order

Most beginners experiment with the

tools

in

art,

although

There

is

noth-

which they

are

and the medium

before being concerned with the subject of their paintings. Keep in

mind, though, that paint itselfthe

marks is

a possible subject

Each subject

area, for

colors, shapes,

of paintir,^.

example, animals,

experience with itwhich provides

painting.

Then

which you may

life,

list

try

is

ferent

on

for size.

if

a general

first

my

viewed from

model of my approach

to

Some approaches

better than the other. Like blue and

from each other

in color,

you find out who you

focus on your inner

model. Yet, neither an inner nor an outer

as a

These ideas have expanded

that

is

possible approaches to the subject in that chapter,

and some take nature

focus

composition of abstract

brown eyes eyes

are dif-

but are equally good for seeing.

my

experience with watercolor.

are as a painter

haps you, too, will enjoy making footsteps

hope

and follow that path, per-

in freshly fallen

snow.

The
Basics

//

Assumptions of This Book

Everyone has assumptions. Even

llnit is

an assumption.

eas) to con-

It's

fuse lack ol knowledge with having no underlying assumptions. In

fact,

without knowledgeboth factual and self-knowledgeour biases not

only

exist,

about

And

it.

control,

they arc more powerful. This might sound odd, but think

an idea out

which makes

its

of

our awareness

is

also outside*

influence stronger, since

it

is

our rational

hidden from

us.

Discussed on this and the next several pages are four major assumptions of this hook.

what you

believe.

Knowing them
If

might ask questions

ideas.

will

we were engaged
me, and

of

my

help you choose for yourself

two-way conversation, you

in a

answers would help

clarify

my

But with only the printed page connecting me, the writer, with

you, the reader, of course, your individual questions cannot he

addressed. That's

why

it's

important that

what the working assumptions

NO

RECIPl

First, this

is

of this

make

hook

are,

clear

from the

and are

start

not.

not

"how

to"

technical problem, such as

book

how

in

the sense that

we

start

out with

to paint the sea, or handle perspective,

or use pencil in combination with watercolor, and then set about solving that
I

problem with

specific techniques, colors, materials,

have no recipe for painting in watercolor.

12

And

believe in

and so on.

no

single

technique that answers

one problem,

it

all

questions. Instead,

creates another. Focusing

on

when technique
light

solves

and shade pushes

considerations of color into the background. Firming up the drawing

a

watercolor with pencil or pen sacrifices some of

see a tradeoff something gained, something

What
this

I'm talking about

book,

have

passion.

is

a passion for

how

How

tap into that passion.

does

it

serve

me when

How
I

spontaneity.

My

does

title of

strong set of feelings and an

aim
it

We

lost.

As you know from the

watercolor,

individual vision about watercolor.

its

in

in this

begin?

book

How

is

does

to
it

show you
develop?

find that I've exhausted an aesthetic idea

13

and need to

mme

on to another? This book

color mine, because

my

artistic process?

Specific steps,

know

best.

it

believe that

What

my

Sigmund Freud published

But reading about

my
me

his

his

dreams

own
is

to doing water-

you gain from knowing

in fresh

ways.

mean. Everyone knows that

dreams.

le

analyzed them

unlikely to help

me know

in print.

exactly

what

next dream means. Yet, his system of dream interpretation helps

understand

color,

present

my
a

dream.

way

of

In this

work

for

book about my passion

approaching

personal subconscious that feeds

14

will

one path

general approach, rather than any

might influence your work

Here's an example to clarify what

is

me approaches

to the'

my

my

preconscious,

work.

for water-

part of

my

suggest approaches that

preconsciouswhich you may choose

to explore for yourself.

These suggestions emerge

from

my

combination of

background

logy,

my

in psycho-

emphasis on

self-

exploration as the goal in

life,

and

my

strong wish to

communicate

ideas with

others in words as well

as images.
I

mean

By preconscious

those ideas and

emotions that are close to

consciousness not too
scary to be conscious of

but have not stayed conscious because they were

pushed aside by other concerns. As an

artist,

work

to

make the

pre-

conscious conscious, and to develop from that source of energy.

If

you follow the flow of each chapter,

move more deeply

time and

again,

art.

But

if

you

hope that you,

in a different direction

the straight and narrow,

with the work and

my

I've

feelings

too, will

get sidetracked, as

you may choose to follow what

one that goes off

left

into your

call a

from the

"thumb

others.

have
path,"

When

I've

often been pleased with the results

about

it.

15

RONG

INGS, Vis

second assumption

of this

book

in his

political

concerns

work. Pablo Picasso loved each

time after time, and we can

in every portrait.

he painted.

He

feel

it's

necessary to have strong

Think about

feelings to create strong paintings.

deeply about social and

that

is

ol

it.

and

ol his day,

ol his

shows

clearly

he painted

connection to them

Vincent Van Gogh passionately loved the landscape

never painted just another

time he painted the tree

ol trees,

the sun

tree, just
ol ^uns.

any old

humble

little

tree.

Each

For me, an artist

loves individual living things, even a stallion can inspire

portrait ol that

it

women

the beautiful

the intensity

Goya cared

Francisco

me

who

to paint

onion.

Perhaps student paintings look "studentv"

in part

because students

paint according to other people's choices, not guided by their own.

Such methods may help students

in

but great work rarely emerges

the classroom. The same might be said lor following the approaches

in this

16

learn,

book. But

think this

method

differs in

some important ways

from the standard classroom

situation. Here,

work alone with your subconscious

that

not exist

at

all.

Any

in these pages, or

passion for watercolor.

view of your own work.

else will be.

isbut

it

a result

If

What you do

will

be

surroundings
not even

a degree,

forget you choose the order of the

Some may open up new avenues

own

when you

rewards you get will be from yourself or they

And don't

approaches suggested

are alone

in the personal

you choose. You're not being graded or given

an encouraging word.
will

you

It's

you
will

less sincere

whether you

of exploration,

try

them

at

journey within your

important to be gentle but firm

are not the

still

and

of your not making your

one

all.

in charge of

it,

in

your

someone

be your work what we do always

less you,

own

and I believe less

strong as

decisions.

17

NO

APY HER

Till R

Here's an assumption to avoid. Several psychological terms running

through
is

this

book might

about self-therapy. But

psychotherapy.

It is

hook

create the mistaken impression that this

has nothing to

it

do with

art

about finding and catching threads

therapy or with
oi aesthetic

development fueled by your own subconscious. Whether you understand yourself better or solve your emotional conflicts and

them,
get

little

issue. Painting

watercolor approach going for you that

Once

meaning.
into

and big ones is not our

how

it

ol course,

you're on track,

came about,

it

alive

or even what should be

Approaches

The

pain,

point

have

all

to

is

and has emotional

necessary to delve

isn't

you experience personal

to be explored.

is

is.

we

more deeply

done about

it,

unless,

and then other avenues need

to watercolor

do not provide solutions

to

personal anxieties and problems.

But

il

you are searching

for a

way

oj

face of your subconscious to generate

seardting-oi scratching the sur-

more meaningful work then you

stand to gain from pursuing the approaches

foster

your working process

as

an

artist.

in this

book

as a

way

to

successful artistic result

is

pattern of strong work, and not the absence of anxiety or conflict.

Should

stress build at

any time

in life to

the point where

it is

hard to

handle alone, qualified professionals are available to help lessen that

conflict

and

arena;

offers

it

strife.

This book

no treatment

is

not intended to be of help

for pain of

any kind.

in that

19

DRAWING BINDS
The fourth and
material

final basic

present,

is

STING

assumption

as

much

is

as

of this

hook, implicit

no substitute

for

in all

drawing from

the
life

possible and drawing from other

work, too. Drawing answers many questions raised by painting-

questions about

both from your

answers other

reality,

own

artists

about yourself, and about

art.

You can

learn

explorations and by seeing what thoughts and

have

20

that there

and from imagination

artists'

PA

come up

with.

SUMMARY:

A FRESH START

Simply put:

you

start, if

would

If

are dissatisfied

with your artwork and want

you find that your watercolors

like

them

aesthetically,

to be

then

this

are not as meaningful as

fresh

you

and you don't know how to delve more deeply

book may speak

to you. So let's begin.

21

ilSL

Two
The
Watercolor

Medium

23

Materials and Techniques

I

remember
do

plans to

so clearly the day

it.

work, taking

But there

was,

walk near home.

my

bought

first

watercolors.

young woman on her day

When came
I

knew

exactly

minutes. For most

in

of that time,

From

went

in.

had

To my

wanted. The whole process took ten

the clerk carefully rolled

my

brushes

paper and secured them with tape.

I

chose

cadmium
bought

24

what

oil

to the tiny art store

passed thousands ot times and never entered before,

surprise,

had no

six

red

watercolors
light,

in

tubes:

ultramarine

small round palette,

cadmium

blue', viridian,

yellow,

cadmium

orange,

and burnt sienna.

also

two brushesone round, medium-size

sable

and one

larger

round ox hair and

purpose pad of paper of moderate

home

as if

were carrying

on the

street

knew what

my

final

I'd just

those paints would change

my

spiral-bound, 8"

quality.

a secret like

married, or had just passed

10" multi-

brought the small parcel

knowing

exam with

done.

was engaged

to be

No one
how much

flying colors.

And I had no

idea

life.

my parents had just discarded, spread

and laid out my supplies, then gently held each
newspapers over
tube with the cap still on, pressing it between my thumb and index
filled a
finger. All the fresh tubes were soft yet resilient to my touch.
I

set

up an old card

table that

it,

clean jar with water.

ceeded to

fill

my

My two

dry brushes

lay

near the pad, and

palette with color one squeeze of paint

pro-

from each of

the tubes into the separated circular depressions in the palette.

Then

tenderly dipped the small sable brush into the blue paint diluted with
lots of water,

and drew what was

in front of

me: the kitchen table with

-m

25

some

vase and

then

ers,

then

flow-

window,

doorway

the

in

distance, anything

saw just

to begin

painting.

When
much

as

done

I'd

could with

that first picture,

The next

dry.

it

as

let

day,

painted another pic-

hut this time, to

ture,

separate

it

from other

sheets in the pad so

my

could begin
painting,

tore

the pad while

still

all

My

wet.

next

from

it

was

it

colors ran

over the place;

destroyed

removing

had

my work
it

by

from the

pad prematurely. So
I

made another

paint-

ing right away, but

didn't like that one.

Discouraged,

work.

It

Early next morning,

didn't look half

But

cally.

looked carefully

It

waited until

at all three pictures

The excitement of

scious as possible,

is

not

painting or drawing,

good mind-set

early in
better.

and they

pulled from the pad.

the following day to evaluate

at least

up

made my day go

bad even the one prematurely

left for

became my

habit to get

the morning to paint before going to work.

when

my work

criti-

I'm as unself-con-

for evaluation. Digging into

the preconscious emphasizes openness and receptivity, while self-evaluation

is

approach to
rently doing.

quality of

Once

own
26

and tends to close

critical

for a

making

it,

my

little

it

me upto

tighten

my work

easy to overvalue or undervalue

time

still

makes

me more

or

my

what I'm

cur-

objective about the

work.

had

figuratively

few

years,

took

wet
a

my

feet

with watercolor, working on

semester's class at a local art school.

my

The

teacher had been painting in watercolor for forty-five years, and had

been teaching

He

doing.

for almost as long so

;

has since died, but

my

he knew exactly what he was

gratitude to

him has

write these words years

of those

first

routine.

Another

still

attempts
use

palette

at

later,

my

daily

watercolor are

round

still

plastic palette,

you might

try

is

part of

although

are thicker than

used to

use,

a larger

aspects

work

one

(12").

an ordinary white ceramic dinner

My watercolor brushes usually

is

was lucky

many

it

again for food), although

doesn't have the depressions to separate colors,

rule

I'm surprised that

plate reserved just for painting (never use

you.

not.

worked with him.

to have

As

it

if that's

it

important to

round and made of animal hairs-

and often have bamboo

ferrules.

A fer-

that part of a brush (usually metal) that surrounds and secures

hairs to each other

middle-quality,

if

and to the brush handle.

And

still

not high-quality, paper for watercolor;

buy
I've

at least

never liked

the feel of newsprint.

I

continue to use high-quality paintsthose same colors, plus

remain the mainstay of

my

color preferences.

Now

a few,

realize these are

mainly prismatic colors the colors

you

when you

get

through

prism more

like

the col-

rainbow rather than earth

ors of a
colors.

shine light

However, one transparent

earth color, burnt sienna, forms

wonderful midpoint between reds

my palette.
my colors from

and blues on
I

arrange

light

and from yellow through

to dark

orange, red, alizarin crimson, burnt

sienna,

and then back again from

dark through light with

violets,

phthalo-green or viridian, ultramarine blue,

and ending with cerulean

blue. In a circle, the lightest yellow

and the

lightest blue are adjacent to

each other. That way, should they

mix with each

other,

it is

mainly

color mixture rather than an abrupt

value change a change in the lightness or darkness of a color indepen-

dent of

its

hue. For example,

if

27

powerful color

like

phthalo blue accidentally mixes with yellow, the

resulting painted area

also

be

much

would not only be

darker than

it

of

bright yellow green,

softer

sudden, relatively uncorrectable value changes being

artists

from placing colors

with powerful staining properties on their palette. Yet,

and dark colors on the

I

often mix

palette, as well as delicate ones.

my own

"blacks," using

combinations

rather than using black watercolor or Payne's gray.

o\ shirks
it

mix myself. Sometimes

blend with the prismatic colors

Oiue

I've

squeezed out the

ol

like

intense

like contrast,

deep colors

prefer the variety

use black water-soluble ink and

for

colors,

let

other subtle, interesting darks.

I

let

them

use and reuse the colors time and again. There

28

would

and paler yellowed green.

confounded with color changes keeps some

and

it

the adjacent color had been cerulean blue

which, mixed with yellow, yields

The danger

is

dry.

That way,

can

no waste, since water-

and redissolve

colors dissolve

When

repeatedly.

almost used up,

the colors are

squeeze more

on top of them and go on from

there. This means, however, that

once

a palette

with

its

established

is

order of colors,

that way.

If

want

use

it

my

to change

palette as happens at least

every five or ten years I simply

buy
it

new

palette

and prepare

from scratch with different

colors or an altered arrangement

of previously selected colors.

By the way,

palette too clean. Yes,

any huge puddles, but

the

little

leave

residue and puddles

that remain

and

let

them

they give hues

Later,

my
mop up

don't keep

dry.

a color

edge, a novelty, a subtlety that

straight
I

tube colors do not have.

prefer shades of color that are

slightly off the

or yellow.

pure

red, blue,

Sometimes

contrast

those so-called "grayed" colors

with pure

colors,

but that

is

an

work and not

intentional color statement for a particular

painting principle. While

opaque ones,

general

usually prefer transparent watercolors to

have absolutely no rules about transparency.

using thick paint or

nontransparent white

is

helpful,

If

do

it.

feel that
If

you

have reservations about doing that, just look at John Singer Sargent's
watercolors and see

opaque

how

in his paintings.

beautifully he integrated transparent with

However, opacity controls, puts

a limit

on the

freedom of the transparent watercolor.

My

approach builds on what

thirty years.

As we move

do remember that

if

have learned from painting for over

into the technique section of this chapter,

you find you prefer

rectangular palette, square

brushes, or any other materials that differ from mine, please use them.
I

sometimes do,

that

too,

and even use shaving brushes or pastry brushes

keep on hand for exclusive use with

paints.

29

A
If

oi

you've never painted before, or are

just

way

curious about trying this

working, that's great. Here are sonic techniques to familiarize your-

self

with the

medium

while trying some different approaches to

ONE BRUSHS TROK

Watercolor paper comes

AT
in

.1

in

one

higher

at

the top than

at

Ml
lias a lot ot

start exploring,

stretch, take" a sheet ot

bigger than IS" x 24") and tape

value possibilities, that

the upper-left corner,

it

when you have

to a board that

it

is

few

old-press watercolor paper (no

at a

time, with

brushstrokes to experiment with the medium,

its

tooth, or tex-

is

raised

about an inch

the bottom, inclined to the tabletop. Think

covering the page, one stroke

and

it.

smooth, and "cold press" which

is

somewhere between the two. To

hours

"rough*which

ture, to it "Inn press" which

oi

is,

range

ot

a sott grid ot
its

individual

wide range of

color,

dark and light tones. Start

you are right-handed. (Left-handers begin

in

in

the upper-right corner so you can see what you're doing.)

Wet

#12 round, pointed brush

vour mouth), and dip

it

in

the right

30

container of water (never

in

any color. Hold the brush (not too close to

the ferrule) loosely enough not to

to maintain control so

in a

tire

your hand, yet firmly enough

you can give the brush

amount of wetness

so that

when you

a little play.

Find just

place your color-loaded

brush on the sheet

in the far corner,

mark

of the paper, that

drier

is

making

on top and

you

It

should

get back to

sit

parallel to the

puddle on the

run, nor should

in the paint again

it

rests right against the side of

mark, but neither overlaps

it

nor leaves

if it

what you've done.

come out

doesn't

When

your painting

mark

your

first

gap between the two strokes.

may not be

too, leaves a puddle. This

over your stroke

dry up

it

and make

of a different color so that

It,

top

there comfortably until, in forming the grid,

Dip your brush

it.

mark

leaves a small

bottom of the mark.The puddle should not

right away.

easy to do at

right. Just

dries,

first,

but don't go

go on and learn from

you may notice

small

section of white paper showing through at the corner intersection of

four strokes. That space can be

made

smaller with practice.

dle runs clear across the row, your brush

Blot

it

before resting

a bit

it

on the paper

should be drier but not so dry that

Now you

is

have two marks in

row

on, until you've

sheet.

a third

mark

made one

Remember

no puddle

it

may

point of getting to

straight line of

above. This

at its base.

Reload your

second mark, and so

of your

marks along the top

know

new mark.

that

once.

If

it's

you do,

This procedure can

important not to use

you'll miss the

whole

the watercolor medium.

left

first line,

means

try your patience, but

more than

Next, return to the

under the

all.

to reload your brush with paint of any color(s) of

the same brush-load

right

at

against the top of your paper,

right next to the

your choice each time, before making

take hours and

water.

for the next stroke which

each with a persistent but not drippy puddle

brush and make

the pud-

much

carrying too

leaves

it

If

edge of your paper and begin

barely catching

you

lose that

a line

of strokes

up the puddle from the

row of puddles

in

forming

stroke

new
31

row

puddles

of

at

puddles

of

finish the

left,

and so on,

it,

there

across,

all

until every line

is

then

third

filled up.

row

You have

starting

the farthest lower-right corner, your picture

in colors.

is

from the

not gone over

stroke from upper leit to lower right, and now, with your

Observe the variation

always

is

time across the page. Continue until

at a

second row

you

As each

ot strokes.

up the puddle" from the stroke above

stroke' "catches

only one row

the bottom of the second row

last

any

stroke

at

finished.

low similar are each of your

strokes? For example, are your strokes mostly reds or blues or equal

mixtures of the two? Are they

values to your work? Are

reds the lighter ones'

new

color of the

all

all light, all

strokes

is

there

your blues the dark strokes and

low do the puddles

dark, or

alter

some

that

mixed with them? Look

closely at

may never have been made

other painter, And some that you

PA INI

.1

you perhaps
also based

on

should be done

may never make

simple form in front

cup,

a vase, a

what you've

32

a few-

before by any

again.

a grid

in

one

and

left to

of you,

any shape that pleases

spoon. As with the study above, this one

will take

sitting,

some time

to complete, but

it

otherwise the puddles will dry up and

your painting won't be completed

upper

your

SUM'

This time, place

is

all

of

and modulate the

done. There are innumerable colors on your paper from just

tubes of paint,

range

in a consistent way.

Work from

lower right on your paper, but place your object on

table against a

background

while you make your

grid,

the object on the table.

when you

easily

won't be

the earlier painting, this one should

so that your simple object emerges

look at your picture and see

photographic representation, nor

show planning

in color

and form,

from the pattern of your uniform

which capture the puddles from the

strokes,

are finished at the lower-

But unlike the purely exploratory color combinations of

be.

it

It

Think about hue and value choices

such that

your paper, you can

right side of

should

color.

line above.

WET-ON-WET
Both previous techniques use
ing

wet brush on dry paper.

on moistened paper a technique known

Now try work-

as "wet-on-wet."

Immerse

a sheet

of 140-lb. cold-press paper in clean cold water.

sheet should

lie flat

in a clean sink or pan, left just long

some

the paper has

long, the

play to

it

when you

pick

it

up. If

enough

it

on

wooden board and

all

four sides. Since paper tears

be

gentle.

the paper

more

easily

so that

immersed too

paper texture can disintegrate. Once your paper

not soggy, place

The

tack or tape

it

is

wet but

down around

when wet than when

dry,

Now, while
is

wet and

anchored, take a brush

loaded with color

and apply your

first

Watch the

strokes.

paint run. See

how

from the

colors spread

more concentrated
paint through the

water-soaked paper,

producing

a traveling

color effect.

The

hues may look bright,

even

brilliant

where

they were originally

applied, but

remem-

ber that watercolor

painting dries lighter

than
it's

it

looks

when

wet.

33

1)R V

BR IS

II

Some people

find the wetter techniques just too hard to control, too

frustrating, so "drybrush*

paper

is

You can make an

watercolorists

ol

method they choose.

is

barely moist

[ere,

enough

to carry

painting can be interrupted and returned

entire painting in drybrush, or you can

docombine dry

the

to.

do what most

strokes with wetter ones to

make your

specific balance ol the two. This can even involve wetting a portion

of the

34

often the

completely dry and the brush

pigment This kind

own

is

paper before applying paint, while leaving other sections hone dry.

BLACK INK
Try water-based black ink and see the interesting
achieve by brushing
paper,

it

effects

you can

on wet or dry paper. Using black ink on white

you can create the

appeals to you, build on

greatest value contrasts possible. If that

it

with washes of ink or even watercolor.

Chinese painting theory holds that

all

colors can be experienced

through black ink on white paper. Not that we actually see the hue;
rather, the

image

is

so well executed that

it

calls

color to mind, makes

us "see" the red color of a peony or the blue feathers of

a bird.

35

XPl

ORE

II

FUR

Textured effects can be produced with watercolors. The paint can be

scumbled whereby
ing in such a

one color

and adds another

with

it

dry brush

is

dragged across

dry paint-

does not completely cover the underlying

against another.

You can

36

that

Scumbling produces

color.

ble

way

a relatively

shimmering

The

effect of light

on dark or

texture of the upper layer

is

of

readily visi-

level of variation.

also create textured effects by

drawing into thick wet paint

palette knife, a brush handle, a plastic fork, or similar tool.

even

make marks with my fingers a technique

ancestors,

who

used their fingers

their cave paintings.

I

When

wear disposable latex or

use

that began with our earliest

as tools to

my

make

distinctive

fingers, and, in fact,

plastic gloves.

Some

marks

whenever

in

paint,

colors can be harmful

if

they get on your fingers or are accidentally ingested, so read and follow
the handling instructions on each tube of paint before using

it.

STUDY GREAT ART

Learn by looking
masters to

at

other

art,

everything from cave paintings to the old

range of contemporary paintings.

ings "after," or inspired by, great works,

learn by

making draw-

and even more by doing water-

colors of them. Chartres Cathedral's stained-glass

windows

or the

paintings by Mathias Griinewald for the Isenheim altar have been won-

Doing watercolors of them showed

derful teachers.

large shapes that

you sketch

at a

ing to safety

form

their

museum,

Where

mitted to draw
art

fundamental composition. But note that

and the flow of people through the

art

is

at

shown

all.

the simple,

there are likely to be specific regulations

when and where you may

rules.

me

work, so always

call

if

relat-

galleries that restric

ahead to inquire about

in a place of worship,

In that case, reproductions

you may not be perand photographs of

can be good teachers, too, in spite of their reduced and altered

information as compared with the works themselves.

37

LUSTRA

Finally,

work

II

enjoy taking

oi literature that

pret scenes from

worked from
plays, or

it

book
is

that

love

and

illustrating

especially meaningful to you,

in a scries of

biblical images,

poems. Search

for

and

38

Think

oi a

try to inter-

watercolor paintings. Rembrandt

other

artists

have been

moved by

novels,

anything that was originally expressed

through words that you find stimulating enough to use

ter for

it.

one or more watercolor paintings.

as subject

mat-

SUMMARY: LET MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES WORK

FOR YOU
I

cannot say this too often: There

is

no one way

color painting. Ultimately, there are probably as

rials

and apply techniques

somewhere, to learn

how

paper. Perhaps there are

to.

we

all

strong waterto use mate-

need to begin

to approach our blank piece of watercolor

some agreed-upon

love the variety of

all

conclusions, but artists can

of them. Personally,

what watercolor can do

and with alternative visions or by the same hand

make

many ways

as there are people. Yet,

never be expected to agree on

them

to

wouldn't want

in different

hands

at different times.

o-

Subjects,

Approaches,

and THE
Issues

They Raise

41

Subjects Are

Everywhere
Food
With subjects everywhere, the question becomes: What
Each chapteraccompanied by images

which

to rest

as flowers

child,

food

ol

and

fruits, are

now

will

be

the aesthetic issues raised

ideas

on

subjects, such

very different experience

in

each chapter. So

in

let's start

the

with

as subject matter.
1

there and

looking

at

is

it

a daily
in

climb.

We

Chinese carpet
cherries in

made

oi eating, like

in

Mount

Everest,

care about food, not just eating

markets, seeing images ol

patterns on our clothes, or

woven

it

on our

into our rugs.

walls,

it,

wearing

remember

is

but
it

as

a beautiful

deep blue with delicately tormed bunches of red

two corners cherries

that looked luscious in spite of being

of wool.

Food

42

Some

paint?

things you probably painted in school, as

For everyone, the everyday event

food

my workoffers

your colors, tonus, and compositions.

but painting them

context

of

shall

is

is

not only tied to

life; it is

love (a birthday cake);

also tied to emotions.

weapon

(to

We

learn that

be withheld or thrown

at

someone);
(you can

medium

tell a

of creativity (for gourmets);

family's social class

from

its

center of our being whoever and wherever

garbage).

we

source of status

Food

hits us at the

are.

Painting of food runs the full gamut, from the delicate watercolor

images of fruit on
tions of sides of

food

is

a plate

by Charles

Demuth

to the stark representa-

meat by Rembrandt or Francis Bacon.

In these paintings,

the apparent subject. But in other instances, food

is

indirectly

painted in myriad contexts: images of nursing babies in religious and

secular paintings; depictions of the Last Supper;

Rembrandt's

self-portrait toasting his bride; Jan

pouring milk from

a pitcher; Picasso's

Dutch

interiors as in

Vermeer's young

girl

images of poor people eating

simple meal; Peter Bruegel's famous wedding banquet.

Am
and

seeing food in paintings

isn't really

important?

where

don't think

only minimally referred to

it is

so.

believe that eating

is

so

43

fundamental to

daily

life

that

nature without food taking

it's

impossible to conceive

monumental

painting

oi

place in our art

have no

difficulty extending the subject oi food to symbolic representations in

mother-and-child images found

by Henry Moore, and

In fact,

the food

in

Egyptian sculpture,

eat

and the way we

for an actual portrait oi a person.

realistic

the person

it

could be

substitute

image

sparse white table,

and

will sit

in his

eat at that table as

ol a

tells

Why? Because

setting,

how

personal choices say

things are arranged in

on the table can describe

that individual's nose,

a lot

us as

any photo-

representation oi the shape oi that person's nose could

Perhaps more.

A room

who

eat

Andrew Wyeth,

country kitchen with plate and knife on

much about

by Mary Cassatt

in delicate paintings

we

massive pieces

in

about

tell us.

person.

and even breakfast foods

it,

person more accurately than the shape

which had nothing

ol

do with personal choice

to

(short oi having had cosmetic surgery).

And what

about garbage; can we

the food they throw away?

We

tell

what people are

enjoy pictures

our

chilled, set before us beautifully to please

when

it

begins to decay?

Can you

chicken kept too long look

Rembrandt made

like^

a side oi

Can

by seeing

food steaming or nicely

palate.

paint decay?

meat

Vegetarians appalled by images

oi

like

But

is it still

What does

food

the smell of

that be a subject oi art?

at

the slaughterhouse beautiful.

o\ Flesh to

be eaten can paint their expe-

rience of full-bodied acorn squash or a colander of iresh apples ready to

be eaten uncooked or made into pie or apple sauce. Or they could paint
their revulsion to eating meat.

Or

paint the

compost

pile

where apple

peelings or fallen apples ready themselves to rise as next year's vegetables.

I

sometimes paint eggplants. The purple

and carmines

in

the shiny skin

move me.

shape of the form. Eggplants offer

watercolor darks.
avoids

44

it.

But

The beginner

a faintly

is

color,

deep greens,

love the firm

blues,

and curving

wonderful opportunity to paint

sometimes

afraid of dark paint

and

painted eggplant looks unhealthy. Painting darks

lets

meld

deep, rich colors

of the vegetable in

Once

into each other while forming the solid shape

surroundings.

its

discarded, could peelings of an eggplant sitting in the sink be

seen as weaving into and out of each other, forming an abstract image of
flat

Could peelings be painted

planes or rings?

surrealistically,

becoming

snakes writhing in the sink? Consider a progression that moves from

painting the vegetable relatively realistically, to

its

becoming an

organic,

two-dimensional design with no necessary reference to contentthat

on

to "vegetableness" and

is,

to painting an identifiable mathematical con-

cept the forms bring to mind, and finally to letting your imagination go
a little

wild as you paint the vegetable forms

as if

they were coming to

or even moving.

life

may

Vegetables or fruit

paintingthat

is,

shown

in

also

be part of

more complex

still-life

conjunction with cups, bowls, flowers, and

other items usually placed on a table in an indoor setting. But couldn't

that eggplant be painted while

difference in

from

ing

how

it is

their stems,

jects, too,

they grow

ensnared
large,

painted?

it is still

What about

still alive, still

in their

on the plant? Would

painting string beans hang-

own huge

leaves

and

in each other's vines as

almost before our eyes.

painted his remarkable landscapes

by arranging bunches of broccoli and other vegetables on

them

as

and other elements.

like

make

growing? Pumpkins make good sub-

Thomas Gainsborough sometimes

table, using

it

models
Yes,

for the shapes

and contours of

he already knew what trees and

and how to paint them, but he

also

his kitchen

knew

trees, hills,

hills

looked

that compositions could

be strengthened by working with nature's forms in this unusual way.

45

Appro
I've

never met an

artist

budget. Food

made

der

it's

often

cornice,

wonderfully contoured eggplant or

pear, there arc

single pear

ing to you, paint

it

many

in

main

whose

on the surface

objects are

problem

less likely to tloat

in

positions.

some

in

one

like

of

the pear because

round shape

46

Gainsborough

them together

did.

Once

it

more

ol its well-

likely to rest

like

is

an orange, which

place.
a single fruit

or vegetable,

or add different shapes to your

composition. You could even try building

just as

over.

as

fnintentionally "floating*

After you've exhausted the painting of

you might put two

such

beginners, hut an eggplant or pear

on the page than

only touches the surface

all

If

shape, color, and texture are pleas-

your painting.

lor

pear.

varieties to consider,

defined shape, and being larger on one end makes

solidly

\o won-

approaches to consider.

[ere are

and anjou; go to the market and look them

you've selected

a tight

ITEM

a single,

you choose to paint

,

doesn't love to eat well, even on

subject for artists.

Start simply, with

beautiful nourishes heart, soul, and body.

PA INT A SINGLl

hos^

who

landscape from vegetables

FIND INSPIRATION IN LEFTOVERS

Look

at

what's

left

on your

plate after you've finished a meal.

Are there

any interesting shapes or colors that move you to take out your watercolors and begin painting? Perhaps a tableful of dinner leftovers will

even provide enough inspiration for

you gather up and wash your

dishes.

second and third painting before

Approach these paintings

as

abstract compositions or as realistically portrayed food items.

47

PORTRAIT FOOD FOR THOUGH1

Try painting food to represent
place setting, showing
a

cup and

will

saucer, can

diner?

table

plate filled with food next to utensils, a glass,

communicate

great deal about the prison

in

who

the picture.

the choice ol food and tableware say about an individual?

leftovers are depicted

one

someone you know. A

partake of that meal, without that person ever being

What does
If

a portrait of

Do we

on

a plate,

what might they

each leave food on our plates

side or spilling oxer the rim?

food, others just

tell

ways neatly

in different

Some people

us about the
to

leave a huge portion of

token pea, others may wipe their plates absolutely

clean among them, perhaps someone

never forget that food

is

who

has

known hunger and

can

not to be thrown out. Images of leftover food

can become powerful characterizations

of specific individuals.

UNLIKELY SOURCES HAV1 POTENTIAL

What about
that

trash can or a garbage truck as subject matter?

compost heap

that's

been

in

in

your backyard? Or the colors on

Or perhaps

moldy lemon

your refrigerator too long to be edible but might

right as a fascinating painting subject?

Of course,

if

it

be

you are completely

revolted by the sight of decaying food, leave the painting of garbage to

others or use those feelings creatively by painting that revulsion.

48

GARDEN VEGETABLES AND FRUIT

If

you have the opportunity, you might paint

side, as

they are growing.

or a single tomato plant

It

on

food differently by painting

cut down, and

is

need not be on
a

fruit or vegetables out-

a farm.

windowsill might do.

it still

Even

a small garden,

Do you

experience

growing rather than once

no longer technically

it

has been

living?

/M'.f'"

"

49

FOOD AS MET A FHOR

You might consider food

symbolically.

What do

mean

to you: bread, milk, a slab of rib roast just

oven,

potato, or

single clove ot garlic?

those specific foods

coming out

candle, with

no other

Three small bowls

way

For
a single

are set before

each bowl with steaming broth, poured

pot that has three eggs floating

Doesn't that describe

50

fills

in history.

simple clothes seated around

light source.

them. Someone quickly

from

in

the

Worlds can bo created from

such images portraits of entire societies or periods

example, picture three people

of

of

life, a

in

time

it,

in

one

for each person.

history?

SUMMARY:
When

you

UP TO

IT'S

paint,

you

YOU

are in charge,

you

are the boss.

You decide what

and how to paint subjects are everywhere. Every decision

and every brushstroke
you cannot control
ter as well as

your task

as

reflects the artist.

that.

in a painting

Viewers are free to

But finding your

own voiceyour

and

react,

subject mat-

your way of expressing that subject with watercolors is

an

artist.

Many

talented people

who

are

good

at their craft

never find their voice in subject or medium. Perhaps they feel stuck
painting only pretty things, or
ing at the

what others

are painting, or what's

moment. Don't be slowed down by such thoughts.

what you find

some others

interesting, paint

will find

it

it

sincerely,

and

sell-

Paint

believe that at least

genuinely moving and meaningful.

51

Look Closely
Tree
At the 1992 World's
so that

it

Fair in Seville, the

had one toot

in

roots of

stood majestically
in

Tree."

while

AM

down

tree constituted the focus of atten-

upper trunk and branches on the top floor

With no ornaments, not even

a tree,"

leaves,

the large space, asking for nothing

room with

"A person

Imagine a

02000

tree so full of

more than

a^ a tree," are ideas that percolated

my theme

for that

"I

Am

show.

Stefan Draughon

energy

it

dances.

Imagine a person with spreading subterranean

Imagine the two

the tree

it.

wrote sounds

TREE

to see the

spent two years painting for an exhibition called

The poem

floor.

filling

the

"A person and

me

the building, visitors walked on

were standing, while the roots and lower trunk were

visitors

seen under the glass

in

of

The whole uprooted

tion in the room, with the

person to be

room

only from the floor below. They looked

lit

a tree.

where the

lungarian Pavilion was designed

the twelfth century and the other in the

twenty-first. In the central

ulass floor,

roots.

in one.

Imagine the drag of gravity on her body.

Imagine the thrust of her

tree in motion.

Imagine "always."
Imagine tension.

Imagine me.

How did

it

start,

my

trees?

hunger for the

sight of a tree

time in

had

left

years,

left

my

How

and even

studio to

that familiar space not to

of

its

glass

muse on

Even

as

in

deep

left

my

imagination,

another enclosed space-

write this years

that World's Fair pavilion,

its

later,

tree stepping out

enclosure and slowly, elegantly strolling from the fairgrounds

in Spain, returning to its family in

52

work outdoors,

turf.

satisfy a

for existence as a tree? For the first

draw the model

but to draw from nature on her

smile while

does a city person

the beautiful parks of Hungary.

53

Like

my daydreamed

tree,

I,

to get out into the "real world"

needed

too,

to escape confinement,

and paint the landscape but

at

other

"

times,

looked

at trees

and painted only the

"tree

aspect of myself,

finding that experience to be totally different from creating complete

landscapes (which appear

another chapter of

in

become entranced, perhaps even

this book).

obsessed, by the

had
the tree

single tree,

as portrait, the tree as self-portrait, the particular tree. Specific

caught

my

eye, shapes of the flowering cherry tree in spring,

shapes

with

its

gnarled branches reaching out, lush and covered with clustered pink-

and-white blossoms.

nearby oak stood

from the previous year

branches as

The cherry
I

in

it

if

still

hanging limply from

were observing "mv" tree and

returned to

my

studio with dozens of sketches

also carried
in

used every

coal, pastels,
I

medium

and

for

back

my

absorbed the structure into

my

of course, watercolor.
I

its

was more suited to

54

mv

tree

and

to allow
its

my

it

the cherry tree

of that particular

from memory, having

But when

on top

it

repeatedly.

got back to

of

my

my

stu-

to continue

earlier images.

characteristic of leaving every stroke

later in this exploration; for

my

task.

While

immediate adjustments

surround.

once more.

tree: pen, pencil, ink, char-

tree, right

on the paper, would come

opaque enough

image

life

needed an opaque medium

Transparent watercolor, with

acrylic paint

painted

of

being from drawing

my

visible

to search for

immediately found that

reaching out to

stabilizing

mind.

searching for the structure of

of

objectively, wisely.

cherry treeengraved

dio,

my

me

was

metaphor

otherwise bare

its

tree

bloom, but

with one or two leaves

tall

still

in

now,

water-based,

it

was

form and structure

worked

upon

layer

layer of

each layer hiding the pre-

paint,

vious one, until

found myself

comfortable with the

result.

found that toning the entire

also

surface with burnt sienna before

painting on

it

created the effect

of light on the blossoms.

I'd crystallized
I

my

Once

idea of a tree,

shifted to transparent water-

color

on white paper. That went

better now.

could create the

of trees with color on the

light

white paper, but

was

not

still

pleased with the composition of

my

paintings.

liked the shapes of the trees,

into a context that

Again,

was

as

developed

but they needed to be

set

as the trees.

used opaque paint, white or another color on top of the

painted watercolor, to unify the composition. Using gouache, casein,

and

acrylic paint over the watercolors

provided interesting

effects, as

did using black ink selectively over the watercolor forms.

But

wanted

still

more from these

enhance the compositional elements.

a

tenth of the original image, until

cropped too much, of course,

Or could

I?

but attached

images. So

satisfied

couldn't stick

glued the cut piece of

cropped them to

cut and cut, often retaining only

was

my

it

with the whole.

back together

again.

watercolor not just next

another part of that same watercolor. Then

to,

the flexibility of opaque, without the opacity.

also

to,

had

developed

If

all

a set

of

collaged watercolors.
I

worried about putting up

based medium.

Dark

Would

acrylic paintings

and on paper,
world.

It

all

more than one

and

light watercolors, varied value

traveled together and belonged to the

of working,

my

it

wasn't.

more that presented

evolving stylethat

"will" helps

tions that keep

my needed

me

They

did.

images with

same aesthetic

had struggled long

would return

itself in

image after

step in the develop-

to paint

and

to drawing.

to paint every day, to avoid meaningless distrac-

me from

supplies,

water-

"style" a combination of color, form,

sensed that the collaged paintings were

ment of my

My

in

the various images hang together?

composition, brushwork, and

image.

show

could have been otherwise, but

my way

to find

a solo

and

my studio and purchase

my family, and other

painting, to organize
still

see to myself,

55

fact,

me

my

will

colors tor hotels.

me

was

back

The buyer

skilled

artist.

to

enough,

ol

brushstrokes. But

need

They were

style. In

my way

or lead

water-

knew someone who could

I

needed the income.

as

my

con-

made

could paint them.

paintings, but said they

"too personal."

Not the content

and landscapes; the "personal" parts were

my

could not turn

on and off

"style"

balance between the "will" that gets

intuitive

in

my

make purely commercial

the hotel art loved

for his clients.

can get

It

purpose"

as "general

of the images, the flowers

more

an

once decided

were

that

charge

in

were useless

as

useless in determining

is

with the appropriate market, and

dozen pieces

my

alone

will

me

can hold

For example,

astray.

nect

my

But

responsibilities.

me

to

in

at will.

work and my

and subconscious elements that take charge during the

aesthetic process of painting.

My

subconscious searched not for photo-

graphic images of trees, but for their essence in paint, for images that

would make viewers

see themselves as

feel

the

one with the tree

Perhaps finding myself as

and expressionistic to more

parallel shifts

both

that theory. But

work can
right. If

may

like

go,
feel

and

in

my

have
I

"tree,"

the tree in their mind's eye, and

painted.

and

classical

come

must find

my

aesthetic shift

my

art.

could speculate on

to believe that there

that way.
it,

When

is

only one

the work feels

ated years ago. I'm different,

way my

right,

it is

the work must change, even though

and respect that aspect of other people's work.

feels right.

from baroque

and formal, are one and the same,

character and

distanced from

what no longer

56

tree, see

cannot duplicate

now from

then,

a painting

must

forget

today that

cre-

and can only paint now.

As you develop

perhaps your painting will evolve,

as a watercolorist,

or perhaps you've already found your "style." In any case, periodically,

artists try

new approaches just

to test the waters.

Here

are

some streams

of thought and technique to explore.

LIMIT YOUR FOCUS

Many people
find

it

give

to be overwhelming.

constant motion.
animals

come

Admitting
side,

up painting on

all

The wind

into view,

location out of doors, because they

There

is

so

much

going on; everything

in

is

blows, the light changes, insects and other

and then there are the people, the onlookers.

the possible distractions, what

if

you were

focusing your attention on just one element? In

to

my

work

case,

it

out-

was

flowering cherry tree, but in yours 1 Perhaps another kind of tree catches

your

eye, or a small cluster of

would ignore or even

step

your eye,and stay with

see

how

it.

wild violets at your feet that you normally

on inadvertently. Draw or paint what catches

Make

that the subject of your painting,

long you can sustain your interest in

it.

Portray

it

and

over and over

again changing the composition, the color, the values of your work,

move up

close, step far away.

57

w*

|TF
V^
Wfj

J&
w*^

.-

fij^' ^

IMAGINATION

VO( ."/<

7.1/'

^HnSfe

Once you've worked with an imamyou think about

you may find that

even away from your work space. Try tapping into

it

memory and

your

for a while,

imagination and paint the image both from your

conscious knowledge

ol

and now

it

also

from

conscious. Let the image enter and travel

in

its

place in your sub-

your mind's

eye,

and

let

your hand and eye travelnot rush back to those violets or the model.
Instead, even literally turn your back to the subjectsome artists

work

that

See

way from nature so

you

if

like

from imagination

as

not to be

these images done

even

as well as, or

better than, the ones you did from

life.

find each approach useful at

one time or another, but

goes by,

as

time

spend more and more time

drawing from

life

until the

image

becomes mine, and then using that

my memory.
life provides me

image to paint from

Just painting

from

with too great

become

my
just

art.

a crutch, so that

reluctant to stray from

On

it

in

the other hand, working

from imagination can lead

repetitive images, so that

both

to
artist

and viewer become bored with the

paintings that are produced.
third option, drawing first

The

from

life

and then moving on to painting

the

58

memory

of

it,

allows

me

to

be

bound

or stilled by

it.

nourished by the richness of

nature, but not restricted to

or overly dependent

on

as

it

it

an

aesthetic resource.

CONSTRUCTIVE
CROPPING
If

you find the watercolor me-

dium too

fluid to control as

you

search for a particular compositional organization, consider

cropping some of your pictures

(a

many

technique

oil

painters

have employed for centuries).

Sometimes by cropping them,

your compositions get stronger.

Once you
tighter

get used to seeing

and more controlled

compositions, your

new

water-

colors can absorb those lessons

and you may find that your

watercolors are better com-

posed than before.

Look

one of your

at

watercolors.

eye

first,

What

larger

catches your

which section

is

most

compelling? Take a straightedge

and move
the

work

it

along one side of

until

you find

ments of the painting

into place

ele-

"clicking"

and your reduced

composition looks

better. After

temporarily adjusting that

do the same with another

edge,

on around the
that

first

makes

move the

it

painting, until

stronger and

straightedges

straight edge perpendicular to

you have corralled your work

more

pleasing to you.

away again

just to check.

in a

way you had

it

and so

way

Mark the corners and

Be sure of your

placement, because once you cut the paper, you can never get
exactly the

it,

it

final

back

before.

59

MODI

TED CROPPING

requires bravery to cut into your painting. But even

It

mistake, you'll learn from

image, leaving

make
and

a larger

it.

Next time, move

more open space around

work

smaller, patching

aesthetically complicated.

it.

if

in less tightly

While

it's

on the

an easy option to

work hack together can

get

messy

Although paper segments have been

added

to watercolor paintings by artists so skillfully that

ily tell

that the image was expanded,

sure before you cut into your work.

60

you make

it

is

we cannot

eas-

extraordinarily difficult. He

SUMMARY: LOOK AND LEARN

In order to "see"

and paint

a single tree, a cluster

of violets, or any

other focused living subject matter, you will need to look closely at

nature if you choose to go

in that direction or inside yourself,

if

you work from imagination and/or memory. As your watercolor work

develops, you will need to look closely at each painting, as well.

picture

you consider finished what you

experiment with

it

further?

Look

really

Is

the

want, or do you need to

closely, learn,

and find what works

for you.

^^(P^U^j

61

Cute

Not

Is

Enough
Animals
When decided to paint animals, focused on the one other than
my husband or friends about whom cared most: our canary. He
I

was named Conway,

alter the hero in search of Shangri-la.

seemed appropriate,

since this

quickly to his environment

I

had watched him

the pet store the day he arrived there.

in

sing,

day, at 5:45 in the

on, he sang often

and

bird was courageous and adapted

little

two hours and then brought him home.

lor

no idea whether he could

The next

That name

but

knew he was

had

brave and flexible.

morning, he sang lustily and from then

beautifully.

He

always seemed to wake up

in a

good mood, even when construction noises upstairs had disturbed and
agitated

him the night

before. Every day

ing his weight in food just to stay alive,

He had

that he

was never

favorite

body positionsjust

much and

so quickly that

ish a line or a

facing aw ay
r

still.

as

me

would watch him

and

busily eat-

was struck by the

his set routine, his

own

fact

repertoire of

people do. But he moved around so

when

mass before he was

from

tried to sketch him,

in a

could never

fin-

completely different pose, often

instead of facing toward me.

thought he was just

ble drawing him, even

busy

little

bird and that was

when he seemed

to

be

resting.

that other artists, with different animals, had had the

why

Then

had trou-

found out

same experience.

Animals often turn their backs to someone drawing them. Perhaps they
sense being watched in a particular
just as there are

many people who

being sketched by

Whenever
would

shift

the line as

it

prefer not to cooperate-

resent having their picture taken or

artists.

tried to

from

w ay and

make

painting of

his position to

my

my

little bird,

my

attention

feelings for him, to the quality of

stood for the bird, to the color and the interaction of the

color and the line.

would consider whether the previous brushstroke

was dry enough to place another one over it without losing the impact
of the

62

first

brushstroke and so on.

63

After sketching

Conway

in various positions,

working with him, together with

my

drawings, to

took

my

my memory

studio,

where

of
I

painted studies of him in watercolor, in mixed media, on white-paper

ground, and on toned ground. Since he was white with exceptionally

dark brown eyes, toning helped to bring his body into relief on
paper, without

Conway
as

64

an

my

my

having to resort to outline.

certainly

artistic subject,

was cute enough to keep

and

my

attention for a while

did have caring feelings for him, but

could

not get

a series

of finished paintings going that pleased me. Perhaps cute

was not enough

that

liked,

for

felt

me.

When

pressure to

didn't have other pets,

went

finally

captured an image of

move along
to the zoo

Conway

to another animal. Since

and was soon well into

a series

of watercolor sketches of macaque monkeys.

As

started

was working, some geese that shared space with the monkeys

making

swim around

a racket, fighting incessantly.

Normally, these geese

rocky center island where the monkeys spend their

time, occasionally going after food or a play stick

thrown

in the

pond.

jft

*<>*

65

But the monkeys do so reluctantly, staying

enough

submerging

to retrieve an object,

the water only long

in

as little oi their

body

as

possible while keeping their heads above water as they awkwardly

dog-paddle around.

my

So you can imagine

when one

surprise

the larger monkeys

ol

dove into the water from the rock, right into the midst of the noisy

The shock quieted the

geese.

sent

them

as

pulled

ii

stopped their quarreling, and

geese,

scattering. Mission accomplished, the totally

yo-yo on a string, immediately

in like a

pond, vigorously shook the water

of!

Us

wet monkey,

jumped out

and Stoodsatisfied that

fur,

quiet had once again been established in the neighborhood.

had posed no threat

at all to

to,

But
events

and

help, so

how

visited

The Sleeping Gypsy.

at

other

studied

any artwork,

had to search

fur-

were inspired by animals

artists

museums.

What

me

the zoo, did not yield

no problems to be solved.

left

it

Perhaps studying

would

to put

however memorable, and other fascinating

observed that day

possibly because
ther.

geese

did.

this incident,
I

The

to be respond-

which the monkey evidently wanted

ing only to their noise,

stop

who seemed

the monkey,

the

ot

Rousseau's lion

lenri

an intelligent and benign animal

it

is.

in

So

unlike Rembrandt's drawing of a lion which, though resting, looks

more capable

of violence than Rousseau's lion does while standing.

loved the lions and other animals featured in the great art
day,

but for the animal paintings

found the inspiration

I

wanted

needed. So

to create,

still

turned inward, to

thought: What kind of animal would

like to

be?

dove, like the ones Matisse and Picasso painted?

my

saw that

had not
imagination.

bird to

fly?

drew

doves. Again,

book

in

developed no body of work.

Then, unexpectedly,

There was
I

It

was not

some

it

owls.

pastel.

My

watercolor palette

color.

that's

work of art

as

immediately did

Then

paint and ink.

and black

anymore,

as great a

hooked on

leafed through a library

reproduction of

a small

can't even find

reached for

my

insignificant

Rousseau's

drawing

66

but

seemed
I

at first.

was soon

in black charcoal

with

brown

improvised owl studies kept growing, and since

is

always set up,

paintings. Next,

my

added some colors to the brown

painted owls in a broader spectrum of

did large owls as well as smaller ones.

in feeling

lion,

it

black paint and ink; next, for

adding casein and crayon marks, even collage.

human

studio.

fifteenth-century print of an owl.

how

my

and more abstract

in shape.

tried

My

mixed media-

owls became more

67

68

went

to the natural history

museum and drew

sketched the few owls kept at the zoo. To learn

between person and owl can

progress,

owls.

how

read whatever

to raise them.

Then

account from the point of view of an owl described

the relationship

hands on, devouring nonfiction descriptions by people

young owls and gotten permission

Then

could get

my

who had found

a fictionalized

how he was

cap-

tured to be used as a decoy for other birds during the day. Although at
night other birds especially smaller onesfear owls, during the day

they

feel free to attack

an owl that

stay in place during daylight, an

is

owl

out in the open. So,

if

trained to

will attract birds that can

then be

69

bagged by hunters waiting

in

ambush

for

them. The novel's theme was

about freedom the owl's freedom. As the plot evolved, the owl was
unpredictably set free and returned to his cave and former

much

wild, with

life in

the

trepidation and physical difficulty along the way. But

despite his troubles, he flew silently and long, and was tree. Perhaps

there was

Before

out

my

some
I

of that

knew

it,

owl

in

me.

had hundreds

losing the capacity to generate

and unremarkable reproduction

longer even find.

70

of images.

It

wasn't

work

of a print of

a living

year had passed with-

built

on seeing one old

an owl that

owl that captured me;

it

can no
wasn't

fine painting of an owl;

it

wasn't even a good reproduction of that

teenth-century engraving; no,

upon

ble

so

still

where

jumped

many

was simply an ordinary print stumbled

it

now-forgotten book.

in a

was

painting owls

a friend

at

when

had

chance to

worked. Never having been to

visit

an urban

a stable before,

be

sta-

the opportunity to be close to the horses, and took along

carrots

and apples,

could hardly carry them.

fed each and

every horse there and had a wonderful time, but as soon as

sick.

fif-

couldn't stop coughing,

felt

miserable, and feared that

left,

got

might

allergic to horses.

When

the problem did not resolve

allergic to horses,

and used to

itself,

was

was not

but to the mold that grew on the hay fed to them

line the floor of their stalls.

comfortable with the idea that

elegant, large animals,

Coughing long and

hard,

The

the gray carpet. Under

was

allergic to

removed the
all

my

mold

feet

up

now were

visually as

my

stu-

soon

as

removed

old, beige-colored asphalt tiles.

less attractive

more

loved the studio that way.

rather than to the

industrial carpet in

Although the room was

workplace.

emotionally more

felt

watercolor drippings it might be

studio opened

my

had to find and protect myself from other

dio on the chance that with

getting moldy, too.

While

couldn't go back to the stable again.

still

possible sources of mold. So

like a

No,

tested.

without the carpet,

was

it

looked

clean,

and

coughing and taking

my

It

could work more "cleanly" in that environment.

But horses remained on

medicine,

"saw" horses

all

my

mind.

Still

around me. Carl Jung

says that an artist's

71

strong preoccupation makes strong

strong preoccupation, thanks to

the stable. So perhaps

ration for an animal,

monkeys
series of
I

And
a real

at

it

my

art.

Well,

was preoccupation that

however

want

in

where.

drew them

to be a

horseafter

mythological one.
in

just

admi-

liked the

the park from

now

horses, did.

all,

they couldn't

real

enough.

fly.

had to be

began finding horses every-

distance, studied pictures of

mLsy"

72

needed, not

paintings but they produced no

being Pegasus wouldn't do; that wasn't

animal, not

cute, for the art to develop.

the zoo and the lions

didn't

certainly had another

body's unmistakable reaction to

images for me, while the owls, and

knew

them
I

in books. Finally,

began to paint them

in

got so tired thinking about horses

my

memory,

studio from

all

the time,

again, first in black

paint and ink and then in color.

I

found that

wanted

needed more substance,

to say about horses, so

yolks that ordinarily

cooking.

would

brought

a thicker paint, to say

jars

discard once

my

yolks

shape. However,

worked

found the

its

right

studio-

had used the egg whites

in

loosely applied

The more yolk used

tion to paint and water, the stiffer the mixture

its

paper, changing the texture of the paint mixture by

varying the proportion of yolk to paint.

held

my

of egg yolks to

mixed the yolks with water-based paint and

the blend to

what

it

was

way through

greasier,

too so greasy that

number

propor-

became and the more

to the other side of

mixture and created

in

my

oil

it

from the

paper. But

soon

of paintings using differ-

ent colors, as well as the different textures.

My horse

paintings kept coming.

made

watercolor pure watercolor this time of

with

his

back to the viewer. Layer

a large,

a partial

densely painted

sideview of a horse

after layer of watercolor

produced

an opacity that contrasted with the light and thinly painted tints of the
underlying white paper in other areas. That horse pleased me.

When
horses.

My

recovered physically,

suddenly stopped making images of

preoccupation with them was gone; the impetus that drove

the work just disappeared, and

Now

had to wait

until

began again to discover

my

knew

found

my

that

could not force

next preoccupation.

next work passion.

through another animal? By

now saw
I

Would

myself in

many

it

it.

My

come

search

to

animals.

me

My

search reopened.

73

Appro

Living creatures are not just observed; they interact with us as

act

with them and with our artwork.

observing
observer.

your

74

art.

it

at

In effect,

[ere are

some approaches

to try.

inter-

are in a situation

the same time as an involved participant, not as

Such interactions can he recorded

1

we

we

in several

and

detached

ways through

PAINT AN ANIMAL YOU

Do you

have

a pet? If not,

KNOW

maybe you

see a friend's or neighbor's pet

often? Perhaps you have caring, positive feelings about

my

canary or you may strongly

your preoccupation,
your interest

if it is a

it,

as

dislike or fear the animal.

strong one,

it

did about

Whatever

has a chance of sustaining

as a subject for painting.

75

AN

.1

\ IMA

YOV

I.

'/)

I.IK

Which animal would you

like to

mals have their crucial place

whichever animal you find

ties as well as

some

less

size,
its

qualities

AN

.1

ol

may

be, the

be an important one, with ^ood quali-

Owls

NIMA

like to be.

I.

SI

Ml

important

it,

and

vour

art.

it

opposed

may come

Whatever
a

^ood

the order

it

to tin-

one you would

as a surprise that the

The animal you

may be more humble than you

in

no sense

in spite ol their

legs are readily injured.

really are like, as

you thought Whichever qualities

76

are strong, but have almost

Mi TO YOV

are not necessarily the same.

link to

found that canaries are won-

art.

Think hard about

ers see in you?]

tion,

animal that engages your interest has

generating your

All ani-

nature's order and balance of things, so

and their thin

easily,

Consider the animal you

two

will

more than one?

Horses are beautiful, but they are vulnerable

they choke

chance

in

be? Perhaps

desirable ones.

derful, but they are fragile.

ot smell.

TO BE

are

(is it

thought, or grander than

possesses, that animal

ol things,

the one oth-

is,

by defini-

and could provide an important

GROUP OF ANIMALS

You may come

It is

to see yourself in

not only Buddhists

many

who embrace

animals, or even in

that view.

Western

all

animals.

scientific

research examines the complexities of animal behavior and repeatedly

demonstrates the striking parallels between the behavior of

beings and other animals.
art

not

Maybe you can

by putting more than one animal

all

be

bring that concept into your

in a painting.The pictures

portraits, in the sense of having a single

SUMMARY:
I

SEE

need

focused subject.

Think of the powerful paintings of Frida Kahlo with

you paint the connection of person

human

monkey. Can

to animal?

HOW YOUR WORK DEVELOPS

learned that "cute" subjects were not motivating enough to permit

me

to develop a

body of work, although

simple image of an owl was.

Pay attention to what captures your interestwithout worrying about

whether

it is

Your work

noble or

will tell

a "suitable" subject for

you which way

art and draw

it,

paint

it.

to turn for subject matter.

77

Observing and
Being Observed
The Other Person
It

think

me.

II

life,

think

large atelier

for a master's

a day, live

78

in

still, it

natural subject for

helps.

painting,

days

we

all

worked

it

in a

Two mod-

week. Although models stayed

we could move around. And some other

the "best" view. They searched lor

in

degree

is

with enough space, hut no individual partitions.

posed, seven hours

put,

So another poison

that person, the model, can stay a bit

While studying

els

people.

students did, looking for

outside of themselves,

the environment surrounding the model.

in

the model,

But

stayed in one

warm

place a

spot in the

drafty room, close to the

door, so

could take

break whenever

needed

to without disturbing the

others.

chose to paint

whatever pose the model

struck vis-a-vis where
easel

was

To me,

set up.

human body

the

ing in

my

all

my

is

fascinat-

poses. Then,

from

place in that large

room,
side

searched not out-

but within myselffor

answers to questions on
composition, and for solutions to drawing views of

the model convincingly.

I

in

had learned, by staying

one

model

spot, that the

always returned to

com-

and that

fortable position,

each model had only

few

comfortable positions. So

looked and waited before

beginning to draw, waited
until the

model had

in like a cat

nap.

settled

about to take

Once the pose was

model was

established, the

likely to return to that

position, even after straying

from

it

occasionally.

poses, the natural ones for each model,

and expressed the

son's personality

model was not

and revealing
I

in

as

my

view.

model.

If

likeness,

characteristic of the per-

even

The back of a person

any other part

believe that "seeing"

were

when

comes from

when

is

the face of the

just as distinctive

accurately perceived.
inside myself in relation to the

needed more distance from the model

get farther away;

Those comfortable

in

my

painting,

didn't

simply recomposed the work to include more of the

79

surround. To
foot, or

move

even an

in likeness.

in closer,

As long

they worked,

as

Working

in a

remnant rug

when he wrote
is

table,

and

work

poses,

to pose for

in literature,

really
I

was

couple
in

me who

my

it

and

my

Gombrich was

lans

model posed

My

paintings.

to

some

right

limita-

of

there,

all.

Although

painted what

was "the

was

colleague-

greatest."

could not

could

see,

whom, doing what? Both

easily.

studio contains an easel,

mainly

questions

recommended

The model,

graduate

into her busy schedule.

Her positions never looked

as

room from the

up her favored

liked to read. Sharing her love of books,

real stances,

exaggerated in

room, on

became accustomed

she assumed

them

increasingly sensitive to subtle changes in her

80

Living

protected the floor from

of chairs, that's

wove me

of

well with spatial limitations.

one glance,

that she read while posing.

way

affect others.

great model. Waiting for her to strike

saw that she

they were

found

in

limited space.

resolved themselves quickly and

She

it

painted

inhibiting.

heads and torsos. But portraits

student

until

good stead over the

small studio and

in a

view the entire figure

someone

weak

comes from limitationsthat without

my

had

prepared for working

drawing

problem. But

in

art historian Ernst

if

that art

hand,

me

sectored the room,

no art then

when

Later,

problem

that visually separated off a portion of the

confinement. And,

studio,

which could have been

tions there

was not

Only then, could

my own

The rug not only

spills,

it

confined space has stood

years. Before having

rest.

me was

interesting to me.

it

the head,

a detail:

Paintings might stray from reality in color, in form,

ear.

drawing one that bored

making

focused on

like

"poses"

so naturally,

mood and

suggested

became

attitude,

which

/
4t

81

For an entire year, while she read or just thought about her reading,
I

painted.

Her

small studio inspired

whatever she chose

from day to

In
I

When

to,

and although items

in

my

little.

made hundreds

them

she looked

if

way.

One

my

had read that offered

good vantage point

set to film

intelligent,

at

my

observant other,

my

facial

paintings in process

thought-provoking
scientist

for weeks,

them, he saw no wolves

at

appointed, he turned to pack up his

row behind him, comfortably

82

creative

commented on

day, this observing/observed state recalled

remembered an account about

from

wore

painted her image from memory.

naturally in her view, she occasionally

in a positive

story
I

worked, and

my

of fresh images.

not only observed her she watched me, too. She observed
I

in

clothing might differ

studio provided high points in

she wasn't there,

when they were

that period. She

ot

such close proximity to the model, an

expressions as

numerous images over

day, her look varied

Working with her

process.

were comfortable

five or six natural poses that

parallel.

who had

but on the day

all.

gear.

resting,

lours

studied wolves

Ins

later,

cameras were

confused and

Then he saw

all

dis-

the wolves

in

watching him. Had they delib-

erately

be the observer not

Working with

at

the

progress, too.

also see

was

to

student experi-

earlier

what

was doing, and

a canvas

when

from green

at

any

saw

they changed

to a

sunny

yel-

part could transform an entire painting.

used to drawing in public. Through appointments made

also

in advance,

my

by

observed what happened

an oil-painted form in the center of

lowhow changing one

easier

where teachers might appear

atelier,

moment. Other students could

work

He was supposed

dare they!

them.

model was made

ence under scrutiny

their

How

turned the tables on him?

many museums

graciously allowed students to paint in

how

front of great artworks. Permission usually stipulated

far

from the

works we could position ourselves; that our copies would be painted

a size different

other

from the

and that we didn't block

Some museumgoers

visitors.

for long periods of time,

see that they

original;

wanted

tive energy. Happily,

my

home and

paint, to

make

most onlookers

said nothing.

But when adults

me

worked did help

mistakes straight in the eye. That's

work

globs of paint take

as

worked, that

jarring.

But to have others watch while

my

could

canvas like magic. Children brought posi-

chastised their children, or attempted to chat with

could be

of

work, others watched

and children stood quietly entranced.

to go

on recognizable form on

glanced at

traffic

in

in pencil

and charcoal

why draw
I

occasionally,

but

find

me

learn to look

in black ink.
I

am tempted

do
to

allow myself to "settle" for an edge in those readily erasable media. Ink

won't allow that and neither does watercolor which

I

love about

it.

glared at me.

It

When

first

is

part of

drew with black ballpoint pen, any

couldn't go away! But

it

gave

me

what
error

an anchor on which to
83

hang the next more- accurateline or form on that same surface. Ink

me

helped

where correct forms were. To my

learn

take" lines wlu-n left in place strengthened

drawing

as a search,

and each mark

any teacher, ink taught

Working
lust

get

it

line

the mark

feedback. With

in its

hut

right,

is,

it's

racy of the

One

And

form the power

decision

working with

to see

than

is,

mistake- that

and whether

a readily

irreparable,

is

it is

right or

knowing

wrong is

changeable medium, you can

continue to miss the image because

the edges that determine the accu-

it is

of that

drawing or watercolor.

didn't anticipate was whether or not to talk while

model.

came

as part of that search. More-

also possible to

of the ambiguity of edges.

drawings.

to draw.

watercolorrisking

in

where the

generous

me

my

surprise, the "mis-

In a group,

people usually work silently and do

not speak to the model, except perhaps during the break and probably

not even then. That avoids the din of everyone talking at once. But

working alone with

nonstop
selves,

as

model provides more

work a monologue about

they

flexibility.

Some

their work, about

artists talk

them-

about anything that focuses their energy on painting. Other

artists find that

the model

is

more

natural and less bored

when

talking,

often with the self-revelation of an encounter between strangers, while

the artist can concentrate on working.

But when

When

w orked with my model and

r

We

it.

That, too, entered the painting, or even stopped

came

to understand each other better.

of intense concentration on

what we were thinking

reading and
84

she read, there was silence.

she was tired reading, she might talk about what she'd just read,

and react to
times.

me

with

my work

at that

my

It

some-

found that periods

interspersed by good talks about

moment

images.

it

helped us both, she with her

solidified a

working relationship

that spanned a year.

when we do

meet,

Even though we don't see each other often now,

we

pick

up where we

left

off somewhere in the

discussion of eighteenth-century literature.

Once, after being up

asleep in her chair.

all

night doing a term paper,

painted that.

thought, rested, laughed, and

all.

For

us, getting to

know

fell

always followed her lead. She read,

relaxed

felt

my model

enough

to

make images of

it

each other was natural and more comfort-

able than silence.

What

seek in

You can argue

there

is

no

art.

my work

is

that sincerity

Children's

are genuinely involved in

sincerity in the
is

not enough and

work

issue

we

Whether
will

is

moving and

what they

succeed in communicating with

cal skills.

children's

immediacy of the moment.

us,

work

not solve here, but

it

interesting,

are painting

even
is

when

"art" or

agree but without

it,

because they

and drawing. They

they don't have techni-

not

is

philosophical

does communicate.

my

Regardless of the current subject of

watercolor paintings,

weekly from figure models just to keep

skill,

unless

might make

is

kept up,

life

drawing

it

it

fades.

my hand

[ere are

work

trained. Like' any

some ways

part ot your ongoing

that

you

development

as a

watercolorist

JOIN A LIFE CLASS

you haven't already joined

If

human models

(even

in

a life

Jass or worked

small towns

have an important experience ahead

not,

whether you decide

learned

in a

group, lor

it

work observing changes

them but from

I've

in a

group with

always found one), then you

of you.

Whether you

to paint people or not, there

is

much

offers the opportunity of seeing

in their

across the

room)

love

how

it

or

to he

others

paintings (not by standing over

as

they develop

composition and

plot out their colors.

Some

artists feel that

working with nude models

learning the structure of an individual

human

is

essential for

form. Others find

clothed models to be just as informative for figure studies. For me, the

important thing
clothed or not.

86

is

to

draw and paint the

live

human

form, whether

MODEL

FIND A
Ask

a friend to

pose for you in whatever she chooses, even her baseball

uniform or her wedding

miraculously

still fits.

which she

dress,

Whether

for you, expect that

than others. Even

when people

it,

some models

scrutinized,

found

a friend or a

it's

model who poses

doing

just

in the closet

hired professional

some models

are easier to paint

agree to pose as a favor, or

make

a living

more comfortable being observed,

are obviously

and interpreted by you

and

in

your painting than are others.

POSES AND PROPS

If

you have the opportunity to decide on the pose and determine what

the model rests on, which chair, which stool, which color cloth

draped on the chair

if

that. If you're painting

you choose any drape

with others, no single pose

you hear what they do

in a group,

but

you'll find

your kindred

if

at allyou

spirits for

is

can learn from

will please

everyone

and what they don't

like

like,

next time.

SUMMARY: OUR ART SPEAKS EOR US

After repeated forays in the direction of other subjects,

returned to painting people.

to

my work

with

human

carry back

beings, or

come

context of or as extensions of people.

that nor did
gears

consciously create

it.

communicate

the world and themselves to

Some images

may speak through

But independent of sub-

it all.

and emotions about

the other person.

art.

artist's level

Transcendent moments

through joy or through struggle show

still

artist

communicating

feeling.

interact with a work,

it

in

of awareness. Either can

in

art whether attained

work

And when

that

jumps out

giving permission to our

was probably created

skills,

training,

best that they can be, and trusting in

it is

as sin-

generation after generation

in

moments

scendence.Those moments cannot be willed. Instead,

go,

on the support

flow already formed from the beginning, some-

times outside of and below the

cere, as

probably can neither change

their thoughts

us, to

have learned elsewhere

are painfully battled through in paint

surface; others joyously

produce great

have always

to see various subjects in the

Another

and bridges or find that boats say

ject matter, artists

what

it is

of tran-

about

letting

and hard work to be the

what emerges from that whether

appreciated in our lifetime or not.

the Details

It's in

Childhood Memory
Reflecting on childhood

memories can conjure up

wealth

imagery

of

for an artist.

When

was

and

central heating
a

my neighborhood was

a child,

a full

bathroom.

potbelly coal stove and bathtub

summers were

City

remember

up

right

metal

friend

my

down

hot and humid.

On

Jose

to the

had been installed to keep

out

children from falling

when

ular,

in partic-

the temperature

was 104 degrees outside

and probably higher

I

my

stuck

dow. At

feet

only catch

my

bare

inside,

out the win-

six years old,

convinced that

if

feet,

was

could

breeze on

a little

then

might

not explode from the heat.

A sensitive
feel

the slightest

of air over

ing

child,

it

my

could

movement

body, savor-

and getting

a full,

though momentary, benefit

from

it.

Each puff of

brought hope that

it

air

would

not always be so hot. That

day was the highest temperature

window

had ever heard

Everyone talked about

of.
it.

as possi-

hare feet out over the windowsill, putting

against the curved

afternoon

the block had only

especially sticky days,

window guards which

One

we had

her kitchen.

pulling a straight-back chair as

then draping

ble,

in

My

not stylish. But

them

A,

'.

'J

Two weeks
Would

of heat in the nineties, and that day

it

Would we

the temperature just go up and up?

At that time, even wealthy people didn't have

a

few movie houses were

in a chilly

would be.We did have

friend's
a

home where

ice

air

all

be cooked?

conditioners, but

That system was uncomfortable

"air cooled."

way damp and clammy, much

refrigerator

got even worse.

as

imagined

a refrigerator at

was delivered

sitting in

home unlike my

daily for their "ice

wooden box with two compartments: one

our

box"

(literally

for a block of ice with a

drip pan beneath, and the other for foods to be kept chilled).

Since our refrigerator had no ice-cube compartment,

washcloth with cool water from the

good on

my

forehead, but then

As

it

tap.

got

For

warm and

else.

book

alternately rested

like a

woolen blanket over my knees. Shifting

wooden
dowsill,

chair,

and

Sitting this

got

for

sought

my

on

corner of the

feet either

way took

all

chair, or

comfortable place

my

on or

dampened

the cloth

felt

sticky just like every-

more and more uncomfortable,

thing

moment

tried to read.

on

my

The

lap, feeling

my weight on the hard

for my calves on the win-

against the metal

energy for what seemed

window

guard.

like hours.

89

Then
ish.

Could

noticed the sky turning from

it

get hotter^ Suddenly, there

several seconds.

Then another

drop of water on one

Then another

drop.

shin.

Was

The sky

my

just

hot spell each

ended.

away by water

got even grayer and

breezelasting

it

more

for

felt a

yellow;

it

was

was raininglightly, tenderly

falling

The

rain.

summer that's what

heat spell was bro-

people saidand this

was calmer, much calmer my discomfort washed

from

yellow-gray sky.

downstairs to the sidewalk, and stood

90

a real

toes.

One win

one had

was

the neighbor upstairs watering her plants?

Lightning and thunder brought more

ken.

pinky-gray haze to yellow-

breeze, as the sky got yellower.

almost green. Another drop and then

tapping

its

in

the

jumped

rain.

off

the chair, ran

91

When

painting

childhood memory,
chose the experi-

ence

o\ that

panicky

and uncomfortable
chose

six-year-old.

to paint the

growing

breeze, the yellow-

and the won-

ing sky,

derful cooling rainto paint the blessed

from being

relief

hot

painfully

But memories are

What

fickle.

happened

that day?

low muc h

tion of

my

memory?
way

to

fully.

rely

actually

is

elabora-

skeletal

There's no

answer that

Mostly, though,

on

feelings.

trust not just

emo-

tional feelings

but

memory

my

of physical

sensations of heat,

my

pressure on
back, on

experience of
of the
title

my

window

tender,

my

lower

legs the

young toes on the rough, rusty metal grating

guard. These are sensory memories. Other details the

of the book

tried to read,

what

wore, what

we

ate for dinner

that night are lost.

The

taste of a

madeleine cookie

writings of his memories.

tions,

both

as repositories

rich material for

my

I,

Marcel Proust's powerful

set off

too, have

come

of memories of

my

been

a rich

photograph printed on
grays shows
tiny

92

me

my

bodily sensa-

past and as a source of

paintings.

Another way of recapturing past images

particular has

to trust

from old photos. One

is

in

source of images for me. This black-and-white

thick, grainy

standing next to

my

between the thumb and index

paper

in varied

father.

finger of

am

my

shades of pearly

holding something

right hand.

believe

mm
<r~

^
93

had found

a pebble,

ably concerned that

tally.
It

But

was

my

and held
I

It

was my pebble.

not even

my

Which

part of

is,

my

it

my mouth and

in

had any intention

home

of

my

it;

interpretation

memory

see

if

or logic?

father

swallow

putting

in

it

me and would

with

was probit

acciden-

my mouth.

reside in

my

bowl with store-bought pebbles. But

turtle

had found

My

fingers.

no one was taking

my

It

he remembered

is

away from me,

it

beloved father, and not even for the best

structed from

himthat

if

was going

pocket or go right into

this

between my

would put

don't look as
treasure.

it

of reasons.

the photo, and which

in

father were alive,

moment which may

recon-

is

could ask

not have been

important to him, although

was

to

We
rate.

it

me.

memories

believe

are accu-

low ever, differing eyewit-

ness accounts remind us that what

even

intelligent,

adults
deal.

well-meaning

remember can

But from

vary

a great

psychological

point of view, memories are "true"

even

when they have nothing

do with

"reality"

from another per-

son's point of view.

retell

The more we

our memories to ourselves

or to others in images or in

the

more our

form.

94

to

We

words

stories solidify in

gradually lose touch

with what

we "knew" about what

actually happened. In

remember our transformed versions often

its

we

place

simplified or cleaned-up.

These become the preferred versions of events rather than those composed of complex, messy, or unpalatable

Why

say so

much about

indeed? Perhaps because

facts.

apparently insignificant events?

life

and

art are precisely in

the

that have actually happened, and our reconstruction of

place in our
takes,

life,

determine what we

feel,

Why

details.

Things

them and

their

what structure our work

and what images we make. Think about

it.

What

does knowing

one person or one subject area more deeply than another mean? The
answer jumps out
important

at us:

We know that

person or subject in detail-

details.

For the painter, details are important. For example,

of ultramarine blue and you
take your

no

work

know

that

to the next step, then

insignificant detail;

it is

you

will

you are out

need that color

no other color

essential to the

if

will do.

to

That

is

completion of your painting.

However, when you are searching forbut uncertain about that next
step,

then substituting another

even violet could open up

You, as the

artist,

color, say cobalt blue, cerulean blue, or

new way

of seeing your image.

have to make that decision. The accuracy of such

decisions distinguishes images that stay with us, as opposed to those

that pass into oblivion. Images can crystallize events in

value the details in those images,

memorable

we

have

a better

memory.

If

we

chance of creating

pictures.

95

Approach
Images activated by childhood memories can be brought into locus

many

ways.

in

two approaches.

[ere are

EXPLORE OLD PHOTOS

Look through your old family photographs, preferably ones
not been "explained" to you

many times

with

,\nd paint that experience, that

photo that grabs you,

you

as

feel

time, and

it

your paintings

work at

finish

look

the

at

scries.

them

the

first

memory

and

last ol

first

more and more,

You might even take snapshots

week and then look

it

at

your

photo that inspired

to the

image you painted to the photo. Then

your pictures

How

in this series.

Or how

has painting

memory

has your

Have you subconsciously formed the paintings

series?

so that they're closer to or further

you place the

of

to record their sequence.

photo^ Perhaps they resemble the photo

If

second

it

paintings on the back so that

transformed the photo image 1

changed over the

paint

moment,

n stimulates your

as long as

image you didand compare

last

Next, compare the very

it.

it

you've exhausted the image, wait

the

Then

the photograph.

order ol the

you

as

you were growing up. Stay

as

Now, number these memory

recall the*

When

at

Keep working with

a third.

imagination.

you can

from looking

that have

in

away from the

one way but not

series of pictures in front of

you

in the

original

in another.

order that you

painted them, are there any trends in the way the images develop?

SELECT A
If

you

are

you might
Paint

it

MEMORY

still

interested in painting your past, select a

like to

paint one for which you do not have

that

photograph.

without worrying about the accuracy of your perspective or

drawing for the moment.

and view the paintings

ever gets too

much

If

you

can, paint a series

about your

memory

as a series again.

Regardless of whether
if it

memory

you

for

select pleasant

memories or darker moments,

you too uncomfortable

to deal

withyou can

go to another subject, or dilute that subject with another subject that

emotionally easier to handle. But

if

you choose

to see

it

through, you

may

find that the past event, however dark or difficult, has a positive side.

96

is

Sometimes the darkness you envisioned

a child

may no

this chapter,

longer be true now.

what frightened

wouldn't threaten
allow
as

me

as

so

in

my

much

being true
case,

as a

when you were

recounted

earlier in

child a very hot day

an adult, not only because technological advances

my air conditioner when it's hot, but

of course am more able to look after myself.

to turn

an adult,

me

me

As

as

on

also

because

SUMMARY: GROWING PROCESS

Some people

find the past, and particularly their childhood, a rich source

of material for their paintings, while others dislike looking back.

latter

want only

there

is

no one

to be in the

moment

entirely.

my

or to look to the future. Again,

right source for images.

may be supplemented another day by

Any

source that works one day

a different source or given

find that the process of growingthe gratification

ability to

change makes

more about watercolor

me

The

glad to get

up

in the

get

morning

up
from

to learn

painting and about myself.

97

Who Am

Self-Portrait
In

the previous chapter,

child.

But

who am

Can

today?

did, in his self-portraits.

free,

dealt with memories, exploring

Throughout

"out," face forty years later.

and hands, accepted

mood,

his

more and more powerful. He

is

come

life,

oil

as a care-

far

and

his paintings got

of

the premise that

get.

Rembrandt, span

his life.They

paintings of his youth to

what

the watercolors of his old age.

in

then was he beginning to learn to paint.

Although he had been working

for over forty years

when he

said that,

and had created numerous masterpieces by then, he genuinely

finding his way,

still

higher esteem than Pissarro

ing),

still

had

to grow.

Many hold Cezanne

in

the figures at auctions have any mean-

(if

he was

grateful.

Francis Bacon's self-portraits or those of Lucien Freud are

examples of self-searching modern paintings.

own image

to paint their

snapshots?

Like Bacon,

at
I

Bacon

the time?

Or

model, but

given point in

know

Painting
going.

my

life.

the person

my own

Some

is

when

continue

cameras and instant

no other

is

no one

become

my

search for

is

moment.

who am
I

at a

next phase of painting,

since painting

joke that "the price

a subject,

else to paint at that

don't. Instead,

to

I'm stuck for

my

image points an arrow to where

artists

artists

dynamic

are there other reasons, too?

To move on

I've

do

suggests, because there

paint images of myself

but not simply because there

could hire

Why

in this age of disposable

simply, as

Is it

model around

to

that

felt

but Cezanne knew that Pissarro had something to teach him, and

to the end,

haw

referred to himself, in the year that he died, as the "pupil of

Pissarro," saying that only

he was

from

he scrutinized his face

the best example

Cezanne*

to see as the "essential

Cezanne

his life

self-portraits, like those of

range from heavily impastoed

"down," hut

of his

his stage of

the longer you paint, the better you

Cezanne's

Rembrandt

find out through painting?

cocky youth and then did portraits

as a

painted images capturing himself

le

who was

have

last self-portrait.
I

am and where am

right;" that it's

cheaper to

paint the self than to pay a model. But emotionally, painting the self

not cheap

98

at

all.

is

99

When
sertation
their

was

graduate student doing research for

on duplication

own and

oi facial expressions,

others' facial expressions, as

front of them. Everyone found

would be simple, and

line so

could

it

move on

to

my

photos put

issue:

It

was not easy to look

gaze into a mirror and

found

it

make

impossible to look at their

do

oi

as facial expressions.
facial

Some people

emulate that photo.

own

facial

expressions for any

length of time. Although usually they didn't give up, one

saying that she simply could not

as a base-

photo of oneself and then

at a

faces to

it

the communication

turned out to be difficult for participants to duplicate

expressions.

in

thought

my experiment

emotional meaning through nonverbal cues such

It

in

harder than expected.

primary

doctoral dis-

asked people to imitate

shown

put this exercise into

my

woman

did,

But most people self-consciously

it.

guessed and approximated duplicating their

own

Those personal duplications were judged by

facial expressions.

group to be worse than

their duplication of others' facial expressions.

Yet,

be

had every reason to expect, beforehand, that the reverse would

true. After

all,

what

is

more

familiar to each of us than our

face? For the volunteer subjects in

were already

made them

anxious.

became the focus of

people

feel

Maybe

it.

As

a result,

the forerunner to

Duplicating their

own

more anxious than duplicating

that's

they had to do was find

said that duplicating their

facial

own

my

expres-

study

expressions

made

others' facial expressions.

one of the reasons why painting

easy. It's difficult. First there are

100

survey, the facial expressions

in their behavioral repertoire; all

and reproduce them. But they

sions

my

own

self-portraits

the technical problems.

is

not

The model

is

both subject and

to

painter, repeatedly having to shift

make the next

painter,

is

from the pose

brushstroke. Going back and forth, from

exhausting, physically as well as mentally.

model

way

there a

Is

to

to paint yourself without continually leaving the pose?

What about

painting from a photo that you've taken of yourself?

Bacon and other

when some

use "reference materials" by which they often

tosthey create

camera

have worked successfully with photos. However,

artists

images that are readily identifiable

stilted

as their source.

mean pho-

as

having the

Perhaps they are afraid to depart from the already

two-dimensional camera imagefrom what they think

no matter how good the photo

is,

is

"real."

Then,

the painting has trouble taking on

its

separate existence.

Another problem inherent

of poses

to self-portraiture

person can get into while

still

is

number

being able to paint. You can

only strain your neck so far to view your image in

a

the limited

a mirror,

system of mirrors. Full-face images, staring straight out

at

or even in

the viewer,

can look confrontational. Other views, such as profile or three-quarter,

are vulnerable to instability since each stroke of the brush pulls the
artist

out of the pose, and likeness

moving

target

may end up

much

doesn't look

like

likeness,

am

easily lost. Painting a constantly

generalizing the image to the point

the

Although most people

is

artist or

feel

is

essential.

be different from likeness for the viewer. The

a portrait that

Likeness for the

artist

including touch.

familiar stances. If

The other

we

artist

own

person's point of view includes the

fool ourselves

is

may

has a sense of what she

looks like derived from subconscious elements informed by her

es,

it

any specific person.

more comfortable with

not sure that likeness

where

sens-

artist's

by thinking that we can look bet-

with our head uplifted to

ter

shorten the appearance of a

long noseand that's not our

usual stance it won't be

likeness for the other person.

who we

are,

what we have

experienced, and

view

ourself.

And

avoid

it.

force

some

the

reflects

self-portrait

self,

We
if

how we
cannot

we

try to

artificial

view of

or of society's ideal

onto the work,

and makes

it

it

weakens

it

less interesting.

101

Approaches

If

you are interested

in

exploring self-portraiture, work simply and

focus your inner attention on

look

like.

who you

are,

rather than on what you

Perhaps you will find that your likeness emerges without

your willing

it.

Or you may

value your painting for what

youVe

paint about yourself, your emotions, your understanding

alive.

Here

are

some ways

to find

ol

said in

being

out

NO MIRRORS
Without looking

in a mirror,

fse

aiw colors

and don't judge or plan

are doing, lust

work spontaneously.

Set the painting aside

it.

MONOCHROME 77 C
in

like.

that you find useful,

without examining

Work

what you look

them

or combination of

what you

paint

one color

ROR

AIT

only: black, ultramarine blue, an earth color like

burnt sienna, or any one single color that appeals to you. This time
while looking in

102

mirror paint

a full-face self-portrait.

CHOOSE TWO COLORS

Use one reddish and one bluish

color.

dark on your face as you look

your

at

Search for patterns of light and

full-face

mirror image.

THREE-QUARTER VIEW
Now that you've

worked with your

try a three-quarter view, that

full-face image,

you might want

to

with the whole of one cheek and part

is,

of the other showing, and your nose in partial profile. Choose whichever side you prefer.

Some

actors will present only

quarter view to the camera, refusing to

face

on

just

how

screen, because they so dislike

different the

two

a face

its

side of their

look from that angle. To see

might

be, try this

and cut them

the two right sides, then pair the two

profile or three-

show the other

sides of a face

Take two identical photos of

one

left sides.

experiment.

in half vertically. Pair

You

will

probably find

that neither the paired rights nor the paired lefts will be easily recog-

nizable as the photo you started with.

SUMMARY: FROM THE INSIDE OUT

When

you have exhausted your

done. See which images look

subject, take a look at

more

like

you

as

you see

what you've
yourself,

which

ones capture the way you seem to others, and which ones are about the

way you

are inside.

How we

have

come

to see ourselves

and the way we

project ourselves to others can change over time, but not readily.

how we
to

are perceived in portraiture at any point in our

do with the exact shape of our

facial features.

the essence of self-portrait does not

ical traits,

perhaps then

we

plain-looking old man, as

can

lie

make

sense out of

so extraordinarily beautiful. That painting

bulbous nose.

It is

about him, about

Once we

in perfect

Rembrandt was

us,

life

rarely has

realize that

reproduction of phys-

how

a painting

in his last self-portrait,

is

of

can be

not about the shape of his

about

nose in that face in that painting becomes

And

life,

about paint. That

beautiful.

103

Art Beautiful?

Is

This

is

fi

the hardest chapter for

me

the hardest subject for

me

e r

to write.

Maybe because

to paint harder than people.

flowers are

Not because

they are more complicated. People are extraordinarily complex. Yet,

feel

human

challenged by

complexity, not frozen by

expected people to be hard to draw, hut

IV-rhaps

nature

of

it.

had always

did not expect flowers to be.

accept the individuality ol the special, although flawed,

human

each blossom

beings. But

it

me

has taken

long time to see that

an individual, too, different from

is

others, even

all

on

the same stalk or branch.

My
Even

problem with flowers

is

wilted one,

crushed one,

very thing that

back to

my

a partially

love about

understanding

remake theirs Can

that they an- so unequivocally beautiful.

is

beautiful to me.

themtheir beautyis

of

them and

show flowers

in

the

their biggest draw-

to painting

another way

And

in

them.

low dare

watereolors, equally

beautiful but never more beautiful than they are to start with 1

Flowers have
I

benevolent power over me.

look at a flower and

feel better.

Whenever

lecture or deal with a difficult situation,

N*.

104

If

feel

low or frightened,

have to give an important

walk where there are flowers.

They may be

tiny

in a flower shop,

and on the ground

but each time

somewhere not very

pictures.

A Gauguin

far away. If real

painting of a

source of strength to

woman

holding

I've

me

a tiny

in the tundra, or elegantly displayed

looked for them,

and so

holding
is

flower was

a great

Rembrandt's painting of

"pink" in her outstretched hand.

Flowers heal me. Their existence and presence make

You may not respond

found them

ones are missing, there are always

woman

for years,

I've

that way, especially

if

you

me

feel alive.

are allergic to flowers

105

or have

come

kind of feelings
a

them with

to associate
I

funerals. For

you to evoke the

have for flowers, perhaps you would seek

a sunset,

baby, clouds in the sky, or another sort of stimulus dear to you.

While

it's

not universal to love flowers,

in harsh climates.

On

ful restaurant that

it

isn't

a trip to Iceland recently,

had many flowering plants on

unusual, especially

lunched
sills all

at a

wonder-

along the

completely windowed room. Long and dark winters there won't per-

mit growing flowers outdoors, but indoors, diners year round see

and flowers of many

ing plants

time caretaker. Although

prepared

species,

all

tenderly nursed by a

had arrived past lunchtime, the

snack for me, and in the empty restaurant

caretaker pinch a leaf or a

bud

one, and cut back that one.

here, mist

The

some stems

106

windows were

full-

staff kindly

watched that

there, repot this

radiant plants displayed the hours

took to care for them. Even species often seen

storefront

thriv-

alive

but neglected

radiant in that Icelandic restaurant.

it

in

A similar episode that refreshes me whenever

think of

it

took place

years ago in the northeastern mountains of the United States. In the

middle of May,
it

a wet,

heavy snow

stopped and the sun came out,

with

large globs of snow.

the storm, although

same wet snow

all

It

fell
I

more than

for

saw

a lilac

bush

was breathtaking. The

the blossoms

fell

day there.

in full

lilacs

When

bloom, laden

had survived

once the snow melted. That

killed the local pear crop,

but the trees lived to bear

fruit the following year.

How
tiful

do flowers

relate to watercolor painting? For

things had raised the question:

ing an image that

know

What

is

me, painting beau-

my justification

for

mak-

can never match the wonder of the original?

JHflHHHHHHHBBSi

3-rt<r> )'J
:

5<CrWG'*AJ

;ci

)o

107

But once

understood that

front of me,

art

not about reproducing

is

subject in

could paint anything, even flowers.

There are many ways of depicting lowers. Traditional Chinese

t

paintings of

ink

plum blossoms,

on white paper.

Clearly,

for
it

is

example, were often executed

in

black

me

not chromatic color that draws

to

such paintingsalthough plum blossom paintings sometimes do have

a small

amount

of black ink.
also brave.

ot red

It's

that

and opaque white watercolor along with shades

plum blossoms

They bloom

would not think

of

in

are not simply beautiful; they are

cold weather

when other

putting out buds.

In addition to differing in color, shape,

the characteristics

we

and

scent, flowers differ in

attribute to them. For example, since daisies are

everywhere, does that make them "common"?

Or

all

three,

108

Or

"simple*?

and more? Can the attributes we ascribe

anything about people?

represents

flowering plants

them

What

if

we saw people

as the

Or

"pure"?

to flowers

tell

us

flower that best

109

you were

It

human

flower and not

being,

which flower

would you be? What

to

first

comes

mind? Are you happy with

your choice even after you've

thought about

Or

it?

is

there a

difference between the flower

you see yourself

the

as being,

lower you would

When

and
be?

like to

playfully applied

thesf ideas to myself,

was

sur-

prised that there was a difference

between the lower that

1

was, and the

like to be.

not what
lush and

doesn't

am

carnation.

would

like to be.

Even one such flower

full.

Showy and

last long.

bloom

year after year to

those qualities, to be

But

am

tions as

might prefer to be

not.

No,

last

their short season.

some

cloves.

am

bloom, even

varieties can

know

a carnation.

have

in

come

own

cut,

is

it

If

to appreciate carna-

Carnations are

in myself.

bloom continuously and

cared for properly, every

an apartment with

even be used safely

of no one

a carnation isn't

beauty

like that'

While few people would

flower,

its

Its

little light.

They

but their delicate scent makes their presence known.

small,

that

will

peony.

low wonderful to have

long time even after they've been cut.

bud

perennial, loyal in their way, peonies return

hardy, they have a long growing season some

last a

would

room, although once

fills a

learned to value their characteristics

felt

carnations well enough, but they are

like

one that

who

as a

cooking

am

spice,

are

told

used

like

say that carnations are their favorite

hates them. So,

too bad. Not dazzling

on second thought, being

the peony, but beautiful

like

in

way.

Then

wondered what flower my husband would

think of flowers in association with

would be hard

muma

large,

to

come up with

men

one. But

in
it

autumn-colored bloom that

cut,

and the plant blooms year

and

a regal

one. In Japan,

it is

after year.

be.

We

our culture, so
wasn't.

lasts

It is

and

He

is

lasts,

don't

thought

it

a chrysanthe-

even after

it's

both an ancient flower

symbolic of an order,

like a

knighthood,

with only male members.

At

this point

you might

ask: If flowers

simply paint another person or paint

flowers?
110

Why

paint flowers at

all?

remind us of people, why not

a self-portrait,

instead of painting

Because creating watercolor paintings

of flowers can be a shared experience that begins

react to nature, set that reaction in paint,

the feelings you had

Flowers

last a

you, the

artist,

activate in the viewer

those flowers.

short time, but paintings can survive us.

Knowing

that

me when I'm tired or discouraged and wondering why am

alone in my studio working to produce painting after painting.

reassures

there

when beholding

and then

when

paint for the search, the personal quest after self-understanding. But

painting also bridges the gap between myself and others, between artist

and community.

Ill

Approach
Painting from nature refreshes me. See

you

does the same for you

if it

when

try these approaches to painting flowers in watercolor.

FRESH-Cl

O WERS

/'/

Most people enjoy working with

watercolor paintings.

If

fresh-cut

you respond

lowers as subject matter for

to flowers, they can

become

a life-

long source of creative expression ior you. Cut flowers are often just one

element
a glass,

in a painting,

an indoor setting arranged in

in

with other objects included

FLOWERING
Some people
be

shown

If

feelings, or if

it is

wrong

them ends

way and do not choose

feel that

you are simply interested

green plant or

composition.

to cut flowers, that they should

natural surround, since cutting

you

or

believe that

left in their

maturely.

PL A X

in a still-life

a vase

flowering plant.

in

their

life

pre-

to paint such dark

an alternate challenge, paint

Still alive

and growing, plants present

an entire structure leaves, stems, flowers, and the relationships of each

part to the other

and to the whole

entity.

FLOWERING BUSHES AND TREES

Oriental flower painting

on the limbs of

is

trees that

are not seen through a

frequently set outdoors, featuring blossoms

seem

to react to the fresh-air elements.

window from

the

warmth and

safety of a

studio (or an Icelandic restaurant, for that matter). As

we

are right there

or a storm, the

with the flowers.

warmth

watercolors feel so

or the cold.

alive,

We feel
Is

that

we

They

home

look at them,

the sun, the gentle breeze

why such

classic Oriental

even though they are highly stylized paintings?

FLOWERS AS METAPHOR
Paint the flower

on

are inside.

deeper unconscious

might you be
112

you

or

level,

saw myself

what

like inside, in that part

if

am

as a carnation.

But

inside,

plum blossom? What

of your self that everyone does

\.

113

not

which pervades your every action each day

see, yet

you can do

this playfully,

while

at

of

and painting the flower that someone near and dear

nitely to

you

right

many

parent?
others,

friend 1

would

that

lover?

If

tremendous

Mr

4
v*

114

to

this

approach

you might

you extend the

back to painting flowers from nature,

life? If

the same time being open to learning

something about yourself, then you may enjoy repeating

What about

your

list

be.

indefi-

variety in people lead

just as flowers?

IMAGINARY FLOWERS
imaginary flowers. Odilon Redon created believ-

Finally, try painting

able pastels of fanciful flowers in bunches emerging

you may

discover, as

many

imaginary flowers than

artists have, that it's

real

ones harder

to

from

more

vases.

But

difficult to paint

make them

believable.

SUMMARY: LOVE THE SEARCH

Each
in

year,

whatever

else

my watercolors more

paint,

also paint flowers.

frequently, but

They come

to

life

keep searching for fresh ways

to paint them.
I

often think of Alberto Giacometti,

did not

know how

to draw.

We

who

said

he drew because he

think he drew well. But he

only approached good drawing more and more closely.

dissatisfied no matter
In art, there

an

ideal,

is

how

always

but never

knew

He was

that he

always

long he lived and worked.

more

to learn

really get there.

The

and further to
closer

we

get,

go.

We

approach

the higher the

That pulls us forward to paint from previously untapped sources.

that search;

it is

my

passion,

and watercolor

is

the

medium

of

my

ideal.
I

love

passion.

7/5

Making Contact
A Holy Place
I

believe that deep inside the subconscious of each of us there

place,

and

think art comes from that place. Like happiness,

find art directly. However,

place,

we

art that

we

if

can

increase our chances ol

communicates

directly

Since that holy place within

make contact with our

making sincere work. By

from onv person

is

we cannot
inner holy

sincere

mean

to another.

not easy to contact,

communication between

getting thereof facilitating

holy

is

we develop ways

of

levels ol conscious-

nessallowing material from deep inside to percolate to more conscious

mind.

levels of the

low can we make the unconscious

1

more preconscious, and then more conscious and

our control?
having

new

In the case of watercolor art,

ourselves

in

increasingly within

by painting

experiences with painting approaches that

may make

elements of the subconscious more available to our control

For some

artists, their

that linkage in the

Michelangelo

of

talent, skill, energy, intelligence,

vision through to

its

monumental

of immortal works that must have

are Chartres Cathedral, the

Chapel

in his Sistine

in his

tiny

as artists.

holy place connects to religious belief.

he was passionately absorbed

believer,

mous

work

ways,

in different

We

see

ceiling.

work, devoting his enor-

and determination

to seeing his

conclusion. Other famous examples

come from

enormous Buddha

holy places deep within

sculptures, the

Dome

of the Rock, the Cordoba Mosque, the Western Wall, and Stonehenge.

At

this point

we might

ask:

What makes

artists

something to say to other people, often spending

cating

what they know

including you and

human and

living

to others

me have

think they have

a lifetime

through their work?

communi-

think artists-

intuitions about the complexities of being

with other

living things. If

our intuition

is

wrong,

then our work will probably not communicate with many others. But

when

it is

right

and the technical

skills are

there to place intuition in an

aesthetic context, the result can be powerful

The key word

and wonderfully moving.

to understanding artistic sincerity

is intuitive.

Scientists

systematically set out to prove hypotheses about the world, and they

communicate

to those

who

share an appreciation of their

of their understanding of probable truths.

116

methods and

V:
'

,,

117

r*V>3

^2^^

Artists,

^V

W B^ ^fl

that feels right to

them and then

other people, too.

core of us.

We

we

have changed;

we have had

Since artists have potential power to

successful image

is

new and
move

on

target.

Seeing

forces with their

results.

own agenda

who might make

it

was

often wish to control

all

sources of per-

hands especially not

in the

hands

unpredictable images that could be inter-

preted in unapproved ways.

and yet be

Artwork

consequences were feared. Sociopolitical

suasive power, not leaving any in other

of artists

it,

others toward their point

has been ridiculed, banned, and destroyed, surely not because

its

we

different experience.

of view, their work can have both positive and negative

innocuous, but because

to

don't have to think;

know the image

feel

cuts through our defenses right to the

^^^
ft

we

making

imagean image

believable, persuasive

V^ftjfc

ft

on the other hand, "prove,"

or demonstrate, simply by

^k

H:z

They and

socially devastating.

On

their

work might look harmless

the other hand, artists whose work

furthers the political, economic, or social goals that a society has set
are often held in

The

esteem and rewarded well monetarily.

social position of artists

are perceived superficially.

might even be affected by the way they

Working with

paints can be messy, often

giving artists the stained hands, soiled clothes,

manual
see

laborers.

beyond

dirty

To find the

118

sensitive souls of artists, onlookers

hands into the

reside those holy places

and rumpled look of

artist's

from which

must

searching eyes, for behind

art emerges.

them

119

From the

artist's

point ot view, doesn't

with work regardless

art satisfies

it

make sense

to go

ahead

current acclaim or approval? This assumes that

ol

our needs for discovery,

for growth, for an enlarged

under-

standing of the world.

So even when we can't achieve complete sincerity

is

much

we

bones;
of art

to learn

others;

see the world

simply

is

from the doing. Through touch, we

and ourselves more

get reality into

The

physical

byproduct of our understanding. Sometimes

we

can

become

get deeper into our work.

fer to cling to the false

impres-

sion that art just happens

effortlessly to a

few people of

inborn genius. To find out that

painters

work

extraordinarily

hard, that they are often soli-

and unappreciated, may

be hard to accept.

We

can only

hope that confronting such

realities

does not

many dreams
to be artists.

disillusioned by

Some with

undiscovered artist might pre-

120

our work, there

it

our

work
helps

sometimes only ourselves.

Theoretically,

tary

clearly.

in

dampen too

of those striving

what we

learn as

we

the fantasy of being an as-yet-

Seeking

my

me

for

that were previously shut.

The

art begins, has

search has

made

more meaningful. Hard work and standing alone me and my

life

me

soul are second nature to

Here

holy place within myself, the place where

opened doors

my

are

some ways

now. Perhaps

or can be for you, too.

it is

to look for your holy place.

PILGRIMAGE
you find

Visit a place that

to paint

you

get

on location

holy. If

it is

work with

there,

that subject

back home. But whether on location or

make any mark on your watercolor

subject deep into yourself.
smell?

not respectful or comfortable

What

pews? Take

does

in as

it

feel like to

much

with you. Whether

How

it's

as

you

at

from memory when

home, before you

paper, first absorb that inspirational

does

it

look?

How

does

it

sound?

And

touch those stone steps or wooden

can,

and carry those impressions away

an ancient Grecian temple or

Japanese shrine, the search for your holy place

is

contemporary

the same.

121

SACRED TEX
If

OR OB JECT

your beliefs permit you to make images

book, that

mands

is

an option to consider. Find

response in you.

Monks were

oi

events described

in a

sacred text or object that

holy

com-

long inspired by religious texts,

transforming them into illuminated manuscripts.

But of course, not

rials,

and others have

all

artists find a

belief

source

may

beliefs, find

ARC

Concentrate on
task in

paper.

create beautiful

work from

and

of

the*

itself.

You may

word or

objects.

II

holy place inside yourself

When

identify

once you have even the

122

mate-

the images that are acceptable to you

and express your interaction with text or

NN

in religious

words, or phrases drawn from sacred books. Working within your

conscience and your

images

systems that preclude figurative illustration

of biblical events. In those cases, artists

letters,

of

it

To do

this

is

creative

you are ready, put your inner experience on

as

God,

as

tiniest grasp

design abstract lv or

low, or by

some other word, but

on the experience, paint it even

figuratively.

SUMMARY
What do you know
with

it

of the holy place inside you?

in

touch

help you find your subject, your medium, find out whether you

wish to paint

at all? Will

tion, in a set of beliefs, in

you find what you

are looking for in a loca-

meditation practices, in nature in the faces

of other people or in landscape?

all

Can being

We

each discover

it

differently. If

looked in the same place and saw the same things,

estimate the wonderful variations

among

we

we would under-

us.

123

Putting

All

It

Together
Landscape
Landscape painting

winds coming

at

Van Gogheasel strapped

is

clown, secured against

him from every directionintensely

on small canvases that

he'll finish in

one

Or

day.

it

slathering paint

Georgia O'Keetle,

is

beloved surround with

sitting in her specially outfitted car, painting her

only the ear roof between her and the scorching southwest desert sun.

Or Claude Monet,

in his

personally created garden, catching the

light,

the ever-changing Light

Landscape painting
these for me.

of these,

is all

and

the same time, none

at

of

approach landscape with watercolors and paper, not

oil

paint and canvas. The wind, sun, glare and the darkness as sun sets on

my

subject affect \\atei\olor differently from

quickly

in

wind and

sun. Puddles of color

would

my

leave immediately, but

intimately linked to

how

patience.

must

stay in

wait.

pool of paint

The animals were there before

am

after

they just

them?

do,

sat still in

am

They, not

a guest.

them.

and when

Squirrels try to drink

water farthest from

I

learned that,

reach.

one place and waited

I

sit in

from

me

home.

remove the

to fear bees

and their

fident that a bee

stings,

my

To observe them,

What would happen

come
keep
is

by

come

far,

to

very close by.

my jar of fresh
my side. Before

rinse water

from

their
again.

People are conditioned

but for some inexplicable reason,

wasps and mosquitoes do attack me, so

get too near.

palette.

would never harm me. So

set the pace.

That sent them scurrying away, but they would come back

Bees seek color and hover around

124

while the pigmented water

to

I,

for local animals to

water supplies, so

would reach over

to go

see bird-watchers or

Central Park, animals

my

want

dew

have learned that shapes are

butterfly-searchers walk briskly to spot their finds.

if

currents shift

air

painting. Evening

tired;

dries.

was;

one spot rather than chase

am

Water evaporates

pushed by

the pigment pool, and that changes the form

slows drying and stretches

oils.

one never

has.

am

con-

However,

shoo them away before they

Sometimes

walking around
to accept

me

as

feel as if

my

still.

in a fantasy land

one of them, rather than

as if

Nothing

human model who

with birds and squirrels

feet an urban peaceable kingdom.

about their business

are never

am

were not

as a predator.

there.

in nature stays

The animals seem

still

They

But when

very long.

When

just go

paint them, they

I

paint a

holds a pose for long minutes at a time, I'm able to

125

work

Wind

at a

slower pace. But with landscape, something

is

always happening.

sways the branches and the leaves on the branches so

much

for

cloud and then out again so

much

for

position; sunlight goes

shading.

A bee

point of

my

is

busy

under
at

the flowering tree that

watercolor painting.

Its

I've

made

presence distracts

the focal

me from

paint-

ing the blossoms.

Not only

bee can make

field of distractions.

way

into

my

me

A person,

paintings.

It

turns

lose

an

my focus;

a city

insect, a bird,

my

whatever

is

mine-

see, finds its

attention from the trees seemingly

there forever, yet constantly moving. Their sheer

126

landscape

size,

persistence,

and

beauty gradually win

ity,

my

attention.

their silent contribution to

without them. Trees seem

life

rigid,

sense their deep roots, their stabil-

on our planetwhich could not

exist

but they are not; they move with the

wind, but also slowly and insistently toward the light or away from

it,

toward each other or away from each other. Each develops an individual
can recognize only

form.

ter at

it.

Imagine naming

few

trees,

trees as individuals,

but I'm getting bet-

not just according to species but "John"

or "Sue" or gender-neutral names.

Often
ings

back

only sketch in the park, then turn

at

my

studio. I've

found that

if

would

It's

as if that picture

lack the

power of

my

is

finished, so

first

reaction

drawings into paint-

complete

location, I'm not as inclined to develop that

painting.

my

watercolor on

composition into another

why do

on

site?

another one that

So

if

have

sketch

127

in pencil, ink,

wash, or even

may emerge many

At some

One

is

point,

watercolornot

my

Sometimes

studio.

two kinds

established

of

outdoor working
I'll

create

later.

idea.

sessions.

On

other

take along high-quality paper and do very few works, some-

times only one.

readying

work there

finished

hundredsof pictures from one strong

to gather ideas, to sketch for paintings

outings,

painting alternatives back in

created tens even

I've

in

it

for

concentrate on completing that painting outdoors,

framing back

at

the studio.

Comparing my outdoors work with my studio work, which was

stronger?

It

one created

varied.
in

good piece done on location was

the studio but they were different In the studio,

my

could work out

detached quality that

conditions. Hut
I

had come

when

work was

oil,

it

had

found unappealing. Work done on location

was never emotionally detached, but

ture

composition and develop the washes slowly with

more controlled drying

a

strong as

as

it

could lack the

to value in painting and

come

even

level oi struc-

to

six- as

the

heart of a landscape painting.

Some

artists

imagine the vistas they paint. In an earlier chapter,

wrote about Gainsborough and

in his head.

As he arranged

ulate landscape

and

forests,

forms for

bushes and

He had

his "kitchen" landscapes.

mind's eye, and

a painting,

trees.

he saw

As viewers of

128

Gainsborough saw

we do

nature

pieces oi coal and broccoli on a table to simin

them the shapes of rocks

his

work,

we can

envision the place he painted and easily believe that such

ally exists, that

in ours.

it

as

he painted

it.

He

readily

scene actu-

did, in his

129

Even without

up

broccoli,

and

displays.

me

The

is

lost in

it.

until

only

few minutes,

an adult, was frightened,

ence

in

was

my way

find

telt like a trap. In actuality,

reached the quiet

being scared

lost in

out.

the

Booth

to play their games, to see their entertainment

lew blocks square, and there

But for
I

evening,

make

bright flashing lights and loud, repetitive music punc-

tuating the darkness

garden

One

Copenhagen and could not

vendors beckoned

730

possible to imagine landscapes, to

beautiful places also scary places.

Tivoli gardens in

me

it's

ol

it

was

is

it

wasn't; the

no way

how might

ol really getting

miniature house-

the inner court. Then

child feel?

whole

ol

horrors for

realized that

it

Could someone enjoy

such an ostensibly sate situation and use that experi-

tor a painting?

I,

Other inspiration comes from landscapes that

serene.

Once,

was asked to
place.

as part

of a conference

visualize an

image of

was uncomfortable

attended, each of us in the group

a landscape, a safe

sitting there

with strangers, allowing myself to

let

times, but then got into the task

and relaxed. Soon

the image into

would

be.

opened

the landscape had taken shape in

the conference was over,

my

might be able to

consciousness at

in a

room

go enough to conjure up

it

Once

and beautiful

with closed eyes

no matter how calm or peaceful

ing a scene.

and

are peaceful

my

felt

my

revisit that

a scene,

eyes a few

calm imagin-

imagination and

scenebring

will.

131

After the exercise,

formed were

we compared

vastly different

another of mountains, some

ers in isolated
safe

country

woods

The images each

from one another. One was

in a

settings.

was individual. Our

landscapes.

crowded

What

"safe" places

to seashore, just like that.

Our

city,

others

in

of

the seashore,

suburbs, oth-

each person found soothing and

could not be traded, going from

choices,

coming from deep within,

weren't completely in our control. Are there limits to the kinds

images

we

can

make

that are

they relate instead to

over the yeai v

132

unconnected to our

who we

are as

of us

skill

ot

or training?

Do

people whom we have become

Appro
One

advantage to painting landscape

is

that

places to bring your personal thoughts to

focus on the

mood

color,

you may choose

on

difficult days.

of landscapes or do you look at

and think about

art

them

restful

Do you
works of

as

composition, line?

PAINTING ON LOCATION
Go

out and find

not every view

be

will

is

essential.

landscape that pleases you. You'll soon discover that

landscape subject for you. For some people, trees

For others,

it is

a treeless plain or

mizes landscape. Whichever of the

paint

it

tundra that epito-

infinite possibilities

outdoors but protect yourself

as

much

as possible.

tan lotion, a hat, appropriate glasses, and anything else

me

concentrate on

As
safe,

woman

like to

working.

my work

you

prefer,
I

need to help

and not on extraneous matters.

going out to paint in an urban environment, to feel

have some, but not many, people in view where

Then

take sun-

don't worry about

my

am

purse being stolen while

con-

template whether to use this shade of yellow on the sky or that slightly
redder one.

can paint with people watching, but some

artists feel

bothered by onlookers. Watch your feelings and see what interrupts

your painting process.

733

IMAGINARY VISTAS
Imagine

landscape, particularly one that

where you
I

imagined

sky

scene,

and can return

it

park then.

summer

don't know.

Once you

later,

in that

did

saw

saw the

there

memory

was

time

first

when walking

life, it is

lust as

place

in a

was'

it

having

of

my

lite,

in that state

certainly had not been back since infancy.

you may find OUt more than you bargained

when

trees.

town. Perhaps

ble that
I

The

my companion, and

images from your inner

start using

and

had no conscious

eye.

realized that during the fust year of

family had spent the

your mind's

painted that. Years

me hut

been there before. Then

pleasing to you,

rolling hills

turned around to speak to

saw that s^'ne before

my

to in

was green with

particular way, and

state park,
I

feel safe

is

in real lite

what

always possi-

tor in the

process-

thought existed "only"

in

my

imagination.

SUMMAR

LIFELONG SEARi

More than once

of

working

in

my

life,

and then make paintings

It

to trust that each

of

my
I

has

in

my

become

approach

is

my

focus

paint from

life,

or

Instead

draw from

life

studio. Flux, change, a lifelong search

a little

easier to let go

powerful and right for

have

come

to trust that there

but

do enter

it.

is

a level

is

and begin again

a

different period

of organization of

my mind

enter that realm with caution and trepida-

Each time, the order and comprehensive nature

of the resulting images or thoughts surprises me.

134

in painting.

life.

outside of consciousness.
tion,

have changed

from imagination,

solely

part of painting.

II

135

,f?V*j"5-

Walking

on Freshly
Fallen

Snow

137

You've Found

Your Path
What Now?
At

someone pointed

recent show,

and asked me, "What

paintingthe grids
or canvas.

because
like

about?*

is it

my

on the wall

self-portrait

described the structure

down

create by letting the paint drip

explained about

my

to

my

having given away

disliked their viscosityhow

hungered

ol

my

the paper
paints

oil

medium

for a fluid

watercolor.

As

spoke,

she didn't

knew

me

tell

had

my

could see

questioner becoming bored. Being polite,

that she wasn't interested in

lost her.

believed

in

my

what

was

saying, but

how could

work, but

claim her

attention so she could better understand \C

By the time

whole

it,

home,

got

truth, only a part of

been aware

on

even

of the rest.

when

know what

is

it,

what

am

people asked,

painting.

"Is it a

subconscious and rely heavily

what do

was

when

say

do not

may never con-

say

if

the revelation

know

it

yet:

is

It is

did not

product of

a picture of

my

The

self-

subconscious as

myself as artist-wolf.

picture of a wolf or of a person?"

It is

Some

both. But

painted the picture, and

unaware and then

first

that pleased me. But

it, I

could not verbalize

I

later,

was

my

about the work

ideas effectively,

and

was not scared to make and show an image

was frightened to

would not understand, and

I

afraid to talk

have had to say about

tell

that

woman

would seem

how

picture of a wolf as well as a self-portrait?

138

yet

And what do

"Who Am,"

lost that first questioner.

What would

had not

it.

had come to see

ried she

my

did not say because

was unaware of that duality when

afraid to say

had not told her the

because until that moment,

paint from

well as a view in a mirror.

as

out!

portrait in the gallery,

Because

it

paint from nature. But

seems too personal

Here

had figured

know my subconscious meaning

consciously
sciously

silly

about it wor-

and not

discovered that

it

nice.

was the

had framed the

piece;

was

it

all

bubble-wrapped

ready to be delivered to the curator.

and

noticed that

looks like

it

to myself,
said,

wolf.

What

it

like a wolf. Funny,

had read the marks

mind

the

"That looks

looked

happened

It

will do.

like

the

show saw

What
that

it,

an ink-blot, smiled, and said

just

who saw

they did not

had had

it

it.

The double

and then, people

know and what had

I

never thought of until

the finished painting was framed and

photo of

wolf up

in

my

had found the photo or why

unconsciously appeared in

my

put

it

up. All

wrapped

studio for over a year.

had never painted or drawn from that picture. Nor do

I

my husband

too.

moment when

was that

down,

thought, upside-down

image was out there one other person had seen

at

to be upside

Then, out of the blue,

was not

like a wolf." It

my home,

at

know

is

know where
that a wolf

work.

139

Was

it

just

an accident?

accident But two? Because

photo which

Who
I

knows.

There are many

photos, found objects,

loved rocks, dried

all

What

kinds of

my

things in
led

me

studio.

to chose

the wolf-tree photo

in the first place

then leave

it

although

had

and

up,
dis-

posed of others

in

hours or days after

acquiring them^

These objects keep

me company
studio.

like

in

my

having

them around, but am

not aware of even

140

in

the

a birch tree. In

had spent the past year drawing

birch tree. Both wolf and birch tree were in the

same photo.

flowers,

behind the wolf

had never worked from consciouslywas

One was

trees.

instance could be an

realized next that

an entirely different set of paintings,

two

One

looking at

them very much. Do they

one of so many

photos of

available

images were already rooted in

My

wolf

wonderful

not

is

a scary

only one threatened by

Gauguin talked about

dog meets

What

it is

my work? Maybe

subconscious?
It is

me. This

is

the

is

think

is

seeing the wolf in me.

artist as wolf.

they put

woods and
his

The

The same wolf

A well-fed

him

home with

wolf and

tells

that

if

hungry.

Once they

he comes

a collar

is

tempted and

reach the front door, he notices

something around the dog's neck and asks what

collar,

so.

scary in a different way, but

scary

is

him, people will feed him and look after him. The wolf

He

picked

in a fable that generally goes like this:

a half-starved

goes along.

wolf with birch tree because those

werewolf.

the same time.

at

my

influence

on me." The story

it is.

says the

"Oh,

it's

just

my

wolf bolted into the

starved to death rather than wear a collar rather than lose

freedom.

The
The
I

artist-wolf

is

not collared; the artist-wolf stands apart and alone.

artist-wolf bears the

am

consequences of that position.

not sure that being an

tionally.

But

am

alone, not just in

easier to talk

artist

sure that an artist

means being

alone, literally or

must have the courage

making the work, but

in telling others

emo-

to stand

about

Is it

it.

about other people than about ourselves? About positive

emotions and experiences rather than painful ones 1

If

you have something to say about your work that

you have more courage than

standing

up

for

your work, you

had

at that

moment

scares you,

in the gallery.

risk short-changing yourself,

hope

By not

and you deny

others the opportunity to understand your paintings.

141

Getting Lost Again

Getting Back Again
I

prefer to be in the middle of

end or even

the beginning

at

and doubt The middle,

an idea, and the end

am

sad that

my

cycle. Will

Onee
lege,

him,

love

naivel) said, "Ol course,

it."

le

had been

die.

do

relationship.

you are

great teacher.

still
It

love

still

lis

It

my

like to

color

know where am

going.

some might

medium.

painting.

But

In the past,

my

say

my

But

would wait

at

until

teaching poetry, and you

said. "Yes,

am

is

still

teaching,

like

any other

might gradually lose

Then, there
I

interest,

nothing to

is

cannot bring myself

paint now.

have

still

surprising reply stayed with

moment,
I

told

come

my

its lead.

subcon-

to trust the waterI

can always stop

whim.

had exhausted one painting idea

see

my work

as

always being in

the same time, in the middle and at the end.

con-

my work this way. am writing this book. That is now. am

planning my next project in spare moments on the train or

resting at the

me

deep

For example,
playing.

end of the
in

my

come

am

There

is

But

day.

also trust that,

subconscious, there

forward.

can allow myself to be open to

142

years alter col-

was doing. Alter

cannot paint just any old way, on

that will gradually

from

find another

have learned to trust

soul, just as

sciously plan

den from

must follow them, not blindly since

the beginning, and

when

ol

same time.

subconscious and follow

before looking for another. Since then,

consciously

may never

Then main

over.

passion." Since that

has been difficult to trust in

scious,

it is

will paint in watercolor forever.

the working through

relationship to poetry

could end, unexpectedly.

do but find another

to say

But

it.

wake up one day and know

or just

asked what

le

me. "You cannot take that lor granted/ he

and, yes,

in

fraught with anxiety

is

it

sad and frightening at the

is

never could

it

former professor.

pure joy

is

the

at

passion lor painting die?

believed that

met

cycle

ol a

hut

cycle,

over and frightened that

is

it

me,

for

work, rather than to be

ol

The beginning may be the most

of one.

development

exciting time in the

body

is

another thread forming

cannot force or push

new

completely hid-

it

along,

but

experiences.

taking piano lessons again after years of being away

no

practical reason for this,

and

have no clue as to

where

me

might take

it

my

in

alone in

art, let

myself "digressions" more easily than in the

me and my
a

new

art to

waste of your time."

They have seen

that

no matter what they

I

places. Relatives
I

my

the good things

tier, a

what
say,

do

no

frontier.

When

will

do

the horizon

mit myself to

My

it

anyway.

new

all

is

We

and others who

recognize that

right;

me when

he

to give

when

a process.
is

my

life

life.

choose this

But

do

not.

He

own

want from
I

had

values the

life

lead

hard on both of us, but he

He

is

free to

Even

a total say

would not neces-

about

how

to live

my

nature from conception or has

instilled in

me,

this

work see what

search as an

life.

my

it is

how

learned

not so you will paint the way

process at

per-

in

Whether

have shared with you

artist,

restless state if

been environmentally
I

have

and to enjoy some of the perks that have come from mine.

Not everyone wants what

sarily

a fron-

next frontier.

never bored, has never had to worry about entertaining me.

build his

with

in its earliest stages,

the formation of

change, and that

up time from

feel stuck,

has less meaning

numbness

more con-

are genuinely

live

the time. Otherwise,

he did marry

can.

me

can only

it.

have an amicable truce.

territory to fight the

a little bit dead. Life

live it as a step in

husband

and helps
is

"That's

say,

somewhere. Besides,

will gradually lead

have done in the past. But

emotionally numb,

permit

because they have led

past,

well-being and do not want

new one on

now

But

and friends used to

servative, security-seeking parts of myself,

concerned for

life.

fought them, and they have stopped saying

have to fight to explore

still

my

aspects of

is

the

way

am.

more about who

do, but so that

my

am

as

an

you may see one

experience might clarify your

artist.

143

Animals, 62-73

approaches

to,

D
Holy

"4-77

Approaches, 30-38. See

116-120

place,

approaches
also

Portrait,

121-123

to,

Imaginary flowers,
Imaginary

Imagination, 58

Black ink, 35

Ink, black,

Bruegel, Peter, 43

Inner search, 122

Brushstroke, one, 30-32

Bushes, flowering,

15

Proust, Marcel, 92

16,

Recipes, absence

18

Redon, Odilon,

12

71-72

lung, Carl,

Rembrandt,

Canary, 62
Kahlo, Frida, 77

Cezanne,

Known

Pan'.

Childhood memoi
approaches to, 96-97

dropping,

_:

animal,

47

o< ation, painting on, 133

Matisse,

lenri,

39

approaches

approaches

to,

40

138-141

Studying great

flowers

as,

food

50

as,

98-101

32-33

Standing up for work,

96-97

to,

112,

art,

37

14

Techniques, 24-29, 39

Michelangelo, 116

112-115

Self-portrait,

Single item,

Metaphor

Flower, 104-111

memory,

Similar animal, 76

66

Memory, childhood, 88-95

Feelings, 16-17

inner, 122

h,

Shape',

Drybrush, 34

142-143

Sr.iu

96-97

Materials, 24-29,

territory,

66

lenri,

Selection, of

Charles, 43

new

Sargent, fohn Singer, 29

lass

Drawing, 20

Exploring

38, 43, 44, 66,

133-135

lies to,

eftovers,

Life
I

Demuth,

12-15

15

Sa< red text or object, 122

approac

59-60

Rousseau,

Landscape, 124-132

86

Colors, two, for portrait, 103

(.

of,
1

98, 103, 105

Cassatt, Mary, -44

life,

48

Props. 87

3^

Intuition,

Pose-

Preconscious, 14-15

134

vistas,

Being animal, 76

Class,

98-103

Portrait food,

Illustrating texl

Bacon, Francis, 43,98, 101

86-87,

to,

102-103
self-,

Art, great, 37

78~85

approaches

Horse, 71-73

subjects

specify

Mirrors, absence

Text, illustrating of, 38, 122

of,

102

Texture, 36-37

Focus, 57

Model, finding

Food, 42-45

Monet, Claude, 124

Three-quarter view, 103

Monochromatic

Tree(s),

approaches

to,

46-51

87

Therapy, absence

portrait,

Moore, Henry, 44

start, 21

Fruit,

Two
Object, sacred, 122

49

57-61

colors, for portrait,

103

O'Keeffe, Georgia, 124

Unlikely sources, 48

Old photos, 96
Gainsborough, Thomas, 45,

Garden vegetables and

49

Gauguin, Paul, 105,

One

brushstroke at a time,

30-32

46, 128

fruit,

to,

flowering, 112

Freud, Lucien, 98
Freud, Sigmund, 14

18

of,

52-56

approaches

102

Fresh-cut flowers, 112

Fresh

of,

approaches
141

Van Gogh, Vincent,

Other person, 78-85

to,

16,

124

Vegetables, 49

86-87

Vermeer, Jan, 43

Owl, 66-71

Vistas, imaginary, 134

Passion, 12-15, 16-17

Watercolor

Getting lost/back again,

142-143

approaches

Giacometti, Alberto, 115

Photos, old, 96

Gombrich, Ernst Hans, 80

Picasso, Pablo, 16, 43,

Goya, Francisco, 16

Pilgrimage, 121

Group, of animals, 77

Pissarro, Camille,

Grunewald, Mathias, 37

Plants, flowering, 112

144

66

for,

98

to,

30-38

materials and techniques

24-29

Wet-on- wet, 33

Wyeth, Andrew, 44

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 9999 03892 391

Brighton Branch Library

40 Academy
Brighton,

Hill

Road

MA 02135-3316
BAKER & TAYLOR

STEFAN DRAUGHON
as

Master of Fine Arts

holds degrees

from

in Painting

Parsons School of Design and as Ph.D.

in

Psychology from

New York

University.

She has taught courses on topics

in

"Art and Psychology/' which she designed

and developed,
the

New

at

New York

School, and at the

University,

Rhode

Island

School of Design. Recent solo exhibitions

of her paintings and drawings some of

which

are reprinted in this

Ceres Gallery and

at

the

Gallery in Manhattan's

bookwere

Broome

SoHo

at

Street

district.

JACKET DESIGN BY ARETA BUK

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

SARAH LEWIS

WATSON-GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS

A Passion for Watercolor

521 95>
Printed

in

Hong Kong

WATSON-GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

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