2:19 PM: after completing the changes to 10th month (below) i started watercolor 9. i’m going to leave it in this state until tomorrow morning, when i’lll decide whether or not to take it further. i need to be fresh to work on these watercolors, or i end up doing too much. the detail, below, could easily stand alone as a completed work, don’t you think?
i do like the option, which is especially strong when using watercolor, to suggest forms without having to completely fill them in. of course the same can be done using other mediums, but watercolor is especially suited to it.
i may decide to use a few of the photos i shot on our walk yesterday, four of which i’ve posted below, for future watercolors.now that i’m working on this one, when i look at those photos my eye suntracts the non essential elements and i can feel my hand and arm dancing over the surface of the watercolor paper.
1 PM: yesterday afternoon we departed from our usual walk up to the stupa and instead walked up cottonwood creek trail. it was exquisite, and we’re going again this afternoon. here are some pics:
12:13 PM: this morning i made some small but important revisions to 10th month, which is part of my sound of a flute series. the greens were too light and needed some darkening, which are the only changes i made. on the right are shots of the before and after.
i also photographed this small, 22 1/2 x 8 3/4” collage, which had been sitting on one of my tables since i completed it, and this morning when i looked at it i had a new appreciation for it’s qualities. it too is part of the sound of a flute series, all of which are inspired by the great 18th century master calligrapher and landscape painter, taiga.
and now, on to my next watercolor in the new series, all based upon photos shot at the creek last summer.
i’ll post photos of the work i did today later in the day.