Wet on wet. Really wet on dripping wet.
Veil painting is not for the faint of heart. It is not for a type A personality. The paint has a mind of its own and goes where it wants to. It bleeds on the paper. It creates drops that run down and are hard to cover up. I watch it blend with other colors and create browns. I am challenged and asked to stretch in these watercolor workshops. I paint several paintings at a time so that when I feel myself thinking that it has to look a certain way–that I get too attached to my work–I can leave it and work on something else. Veil painting for me is freeing. I can paint with water downed colors and then keep adding more pigment before I even have to think about a motif.
Ahh, so nice to feel permission to just be with the color and find balance within and then reflected on the paper. Hmmm. What color next? Hmmm. What would I see if I soften my gaze and turn the board a different direction? Hmmm. can I stretch and add a black line or create light areas on my work without “ruining” what I think I want. Hmmm. what if I mess up? Better yet… what if I push through those thoughts and create something even more magical, rich and interesting. That I trust into the process. Cool!
I always love what I have created because I really feel present with the painting exercises. My mind quiets for a moment while I concentrate on a new creative expression. I take all those worries, fears, overwhelming moments and get to move them into form. We are all painters, but it is certainly more fun and successful when we are given the tools and we have an understanding of a process. These summer retreats combine tools, instruction, and we learn about an artist. This summer’s artist focus was Georgia O’Keeffe. A strong talented woman who spent time in New Mexico painting landscapes. She loved the desert. Her style was bold. I feel inspired learning about artists and how they approach their studies and I love understanding a bit more about what draws them to be artists and how they become famous. What makes them tick–what obstacles they work with and how they find courage to follow their heart. They are seen.
This painting I worked on this summer is one that expresses sheer joy. A woman emerging. Being seen. I am that woman!