Reference Photo Taken May 1, 2016 at 8:14 PM
I took several photos as I sat in the passenger seat that evening. That’s what I am compelled to do when the ever-changing sky stretches for miles all around us. This spring evening, as the sun was setting in the tranquil, azure sky, we could see a storm moving across the horizon. Soon we could see an ominous, opaque shroud eclipsing the serene cerulean sky. Just below the heavy curtain, the sun illuminated the underbelly of those threatening clouds with saffron and curry. Like an audience below the stage, the darkened farmland hunkered down and watched the show.
To me, this moment was mesmerizing and I became obsessed with capturing its essence in watercolor.
June 4 - July 21, 2016
Painting Sessions
I experimented, researched paint characteristics and grew more and more frustrated. My anger caused me to tear my watercolor paper and like never before, I put globs of paint directly on the paper in an effort to make the stormy sky as dark and opaque as possible. Still I was not at all pleased with the results. Soon I not only felt emotionally and mentally spent, but my shoulders and neck constantly ached. During these four to six hour painting sessions, I had wet paintings all over my carpeted studio (doubles as my home’s guest room). The final painting is only 6 x 12 inches because I didn’t have any large paper left. This small painting achieved the essence and vision I was driven to create. Along the way, I painted both awful and lovely sky studies. This experience taught me some valuable lessons about watercolor qualities and techniques. The only way to get better is to persevere and keep painting.
Best Compliment
In the midst of this quest to achieve my stormy sunset gem, I shared what I viewed to be my painting failures with a group of fellow artists. One of these colleagues encouraged me to continue my mission and he was so moved by my sky studies, that he wrote me a letter explaining how he felt about them. He connected with my paintings so much that he felt compelled to not only tell me, but to write and deliver me a handwritten response. I carry that letter in my journal as a reminder.
Sky Show, Watercolor on Paper, 6 x 12”, 2016 NFS