Posts tagged painting as meditation
Finding YOUR Way with Watercolor

Two professional oil painters recently told me that they are afraid of painting with watercolor. They said that it is too unpredictable and unforgiving. I have heard this before.

In fact, I used to believe that too. I had NO intention of even trying watercolor before moving into a very small apartment in Honolulu made it advisable (fumes from oil paints can be deadly).

Now I know watercolor can be magical & free as well as domesticated, and occasionally quiet.

Watercolor has many facets and can be used differently to suit your moods.

My favorite method is to embrace the mystery of painting as a form of meditation and insight.

I enjoy the challenge of starting fast with a loose idea. Then applying texture and paint to create an underpainting (my Hide-N-Seek method).

Later, when all the texture has been removed, I paint slowly, taking my time to find my original idea (the Seeking part of Hide-N-Seek).

It is a good idea to have several paintings going so that when you get “stuck” on one, you can work on another.

Each painting has the potential to teach us something new about art and about life.

When we quietly tiptoe into our paintings, we have the opportunity to watch magic happen as the world expands through our creation.

When painting slowly, stop periodically to really look at the painting in progress. In this way you can see what is needed and the painting process becomes a meditation.

Sometimes paintings happen quickly. Stunning paintings, filled with charged color and fluid movement can happen in one sitting.

There truly are as many ways to paint, as there are people.

If you want to find your own way with watercolor, please email me. Teaching and helping others to expand their artistic vision is one of my favorite things to do.

Not yet complete, here you see that I am finding more and more trees in this Aspen Grove in Autumn. This painting was started in the Hide-N-Seek Class I taught in Denver earlier in October, 2014. Ask me how you can arrange to have me teach a class i…

Not yet complete, here you see that I am finding more and more trees in this Aspen Grove in Autumn. This painting was started in the Hide-N-Seek Class I taught in Denver earlier in October, 2014. Ask me how you can arrange to have me teach a class in your neck of the woods!