I can still paint; phew !

Its been more than 3 months since I last painted.

When I wait too long between paintings, a crazy thing happens.
I become increasiingly less confident,even to the point of paralysis.
I am sure I will be unable to do even the most simplest of things on paper.

But then it does come again. Phew! Here are a few new published works, one done yesterday.

Germany

I attended a lecture on German artists today, along with a special Otto Dix exposition.
Albeit disturbing at times, he did amazing work. His mission was to show the painful side of war and poverty in WW I and the post WW I eras in Germany.
His portraits are amazing.It was interesting to learn that he drew his subjects as they posed, but then painted the art without them ! If he painted from them live he said he would get lost in the details. Clearly he saw and remembered the character and emotion within each of his subjects, and could best express it from his heart wihtout reality as a guide. Pretty amazing.
As a mini slaute to Otto, here are watercolors I did while in Germany in March 2009. And a few from France and Italy . Can you spot the ones which are German?

blind contour of a female

This is a real change of pace.
I did this many years ago, as a blind contour excercise.
A few minutes, drawing without looking at the paper, only the subject.
If you want to read a great book on the spirituality of drawing and painting, give the Zen of Seeing a try , by Frederick Franck. It is inspiring.

A breath of coolness for you

Here is a cool surprise for you in the midst of this hot, humid summer.
Painted on the mountain here in Montreal.

A window in Tuscany

This was done while staying in Tuscany. I liked the shadows on the walls and the chair.

Old Boat and Sailboat at anchor

Boats can be great to paint.
I like to try and find some drama in their images or settings.

This old wreck is by the harbour in Baie St Paul Quebec.
The sailboat was at anchor on a stormy day on a lake south of Montreal in Estrie.
I think I gotta learn to lighten up and use less Payne's!!??

Estrie in June

I did this painting outside this past week in Georgeville Quebec, about two hours from Montreal in Estrie.
I like the sky. It was at the end of a rainstorm,very windy and the sky was dynamic.
I perpared the paper for the sky first with lots and lots of water , then using paynes grey with the tip of a large brush, I layered in the lines that were crossing the sky, letting the water do its thing.

This past weekend I visited an incredible exhibition of watercolors by American artists at the Currier Museum in Manchester New Hampshire.

Hopper,Homer,Wyeth, and more. Sadly, no Sargent.

But what a great collection with excellent descriptions of styles and techniques. Visit them at the Currier Museum website while it is on until June 7.

One thing I learnt was that scraping off pigment to get to the "real" white contrast was done by many , including Homer and Hopper. I thought it was a no no ! But when you look closely , the torn paper proves it.

Hopper's houses are fabulous. How can he make houses so simple seem so interesting with those mgical shadows and highlights?

I saw one Wyeth titled "By the Light of The Moon " , a piece he did when he was about 83.

It is magnificent. I don't think the family allows anyone to use it in publications.

The exhibit was a lesson, once more, in the sheer power of contrast, of light versus shadows, and how essential they can be to giving the painting strength,drama, and visual pleasure that is usually missed in our everyday viewing of objects and people around us.

The exhibition also revealed to me just how much Americans did to take watercolors to a new level of creative expression. They gave it its own identity and meaning as a media of itself, way beyond being only studies done before doing oils etc

I also learnt that Homer loved his watercolors more than his oils . It's what he did on his vacations .. away from his commissioned oils in his studio.

I think it was the same for Sargent.

And Wyeth too. Watercolors, especially in away places, was a sheer flight of freedom for them .

As a little salute to these great Amercian artists, here are a couple of watercolors I did of US scenes . Clearly I still have a ways to go. But I am not even close to 83!!!

I am humbled by them all.

Peter ; you are correct. The gentleman with the white hat was done in Rome.
How did you know?

But speaking of Paris....

Once in a while I like to paint people.

This hat and pose captured my attention.

He seemed alone yet so engaged with his book. One can tell from his body language.

Can anyone guess where this was?