On My Back Door-Step #1

Birches in Sunshine #1

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Watercolor on paper, 11in x 15in

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I am such a sucker for a challenge.

So when that Ol' Pointy-Toe Boot of Patricia's nudged me into starting some new daily landscapes, I took the good advice (thank you!) and I got started.

This is a challenge to do 30 paintings on my back door-step, and by co-incidence the number matches with "30 Days Hath September," and so this is my September project.

For now, I am exploring with watercolor paints, on quarter-sheets of paper. The media may change during the month, but I have accepted the challenge, and I can't wait to see the results. What fun!

So, check back during the month of September and see the things I can see from my back door-step. I'll be out there with my paints every day, and if you're here, you can see the results!

Thanks!

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Art Every Day Month - November 4

Backflow

Backflow in watercolor is the result of an intrusion from one area of wet paint into another.

Backflow could create an attractive marbled effect or it could spoil a painting.

Usually backflow comes as an accident – unwanted. However, if I interfere it’s not an accident any more, it is an experiment, and in today’s painting I deliberately set up the conditions for backflow to occur.

The extent of backflow is a function of how quick I am to intervene to prevent "ruin", or how long I am prepared to wait to see what develops. Today I waited. I had to let the entire backflow effect happen on its own.

Whether I accept the random results depends on how spontaneous or how controlling I want to be, with the painting or with myself.

Art Every Day Month – November 2

Art Every Day for the Month of November

Today’s challenges… keeping going. Letting the water and the paper and the pigment do what they will as they dry. And accepting the results as the watercolor does the work of painting all by itself.

All I do is initiate the process.

And I will use the results to prepare myself for tomorrow’s painting.