Water Falls
An update on my watercolour attempts is long overdue. I’ve shifted my attention onto the Canyon as subject matter, with the results so far seemingly separating along two paths. I have a sketchpad which I decided would be dedicated to the experience of the many forms of water we encountered, whether it be falls, steam or geysers. I wanted this book to be entirely experimental without getting hung up on any of the studies being pinned down with recognisable forms. As with previous paintings its my hope that somehow it’s natural movement could reveal an inherent connection to it’s visual nature as we encounter it day to day.
Water Sketchbook
Another sketchpad feels much more like a continuation of what I am doing in the oil work with the scale of the canyon and distance being suggested with contrasting textures. These are more consciously heading towards creating an image which relies less on abstraction with conscious elements linking the image more clearly to its source.
View over precipice, watercolour, 30x27cm
I suspect what is happening in these two books is that I am working at my two extremes in order to explore the possibilities of the medium. I am pleased with the results of both although I find both producing and looking at the experimental abstract sketches more enticing. I keep thinking back to Turner’s studies where vast expanses of abstract colour is given meaning energy and depth by such minimal recognisable elements. I’m certainly not anywhere close to that yet but it feels like this last image is more like the balance I am heading towards. In the meantime the physical process of using the paint and watching it move is very addictive.
Water and rock sketch, watercolour, 35x28cm