Monday, January 11, 2010

Purple Clouds

Here's another one of my 5 x 7 watercolor and gouache paintings. I really enjoyed painting the sky and clouds. I used a fan brush and white gouache to blend the clouds into their unusual shape. I love experimenting with new techniques. It is amazing how doing something a little (or alot) differently, using a new tool or mixing media help you to get different looks.

The question I have is how using different materials and techniques effects your style. I feel that I'm starting to develop my style but when I try new "ways" of painting I wonder if it is different from my usual style of painting. Or is it just expanding my style? When I look at other artists work sometimes their style is consistent no matter what they do. But others have different styles for different ways of painting. For example an artist that I greatly admire, Birgit O'Conner paints vivid flowers that are crisp and sharp. She has very distinct way of painting. But her landscapes are more "watercolory", vague and almost mystical. They look like they could have been done by a different artist.

Well I guess I will just continue to explore new ways of doing things. I think I would be bored if I didn't. I just love the feeling when trying something new and "voila" it works!!!

2 comments:

Meera Rao said...

I like the colors in you sky/clouds!

For me, the subject usually directs me to the style of painting --its almost as if the subject dictates how it would rather be painted :)

Kathy Staicer said...

Thanks Meera.
I agree with your comment on the subject influencing the style of painting. Also when I look at a possible subject I can see it in a specific medium.