Necessary Exile – New Abstract Water-media Painting
©Ruth Armitage 2016, Watercolor and Acrylic on Paper, 30×22″
I have a new abstract work, fresh from the studio, to share. It was a long process to birth this painting, over a month and a half. I attribute that to the difficulty of re-entering the studio after a break for the holidays.
The painting began with experimenting with some new colors provided to me by Qor Watercolors. These paints are made by Golden and are very intensely pigmented. I wanted to test how the colors performed alongside some of my favorites on the palette. I am happy to say that they are a joy to work with! As I continued with the painting, though, the subject began to occupy all my thoughts.
The idea behind the painting had been brewing for a long time… I wanted to make a painting based on the idea of being forced to leave a place one considers home. My reasons for choosing this subject relate to both my personal struggles and to the conditions of so many refugees in the world today.
“We learn, grow and become compassionate and generous as much through exile as homecoming, as much through loss as gain, as much through giving things away as in receiving what we believe to be our due.”
Near the end of the process, I decided to subdue much of the far left side and a large shape across the center with white acrylic spray paint by Liquitex. I love how it softly veils the shapes beneath it and subdues the colors.
I’m interested to hear how you ‘read’ the painting. Leave me a comment!
I really love the simple clean shapes with the suggestion of deeper shapes. I’ve used Qor for a while, bought 5 tubes virtually when it hit the shelves. I’ll have to get it out again and do some straight painting.
Thanks Sandra – When I taught a shape lesson on Saturday it suddenly struck me what this painting needed 🙂
Hi Ruth:
Congratulations on your new site! … And the successful of this new painting!
This new feels very different from many of the other abstracts I’ve seen you post. Nice that all your children, I mean paintings are unique.
I like the shapes and especially the intense color of the largest shape. The “veiled” feeling and appearance comes as a surprise as to how you achieved the effect. I thought it had been lifted out, (my mind loves figuring out how a painting was done:). So many things work about this piece and keeps my eyes interested?.
Thank you Pamela 🙂
I love the feeling of clarity, then the shaded portion which is lighter and either in the past or in the future. I think the future because there’s wonderful things there for me to discover.
Thank you Bobbie!
I like the white veil effect, too. Gives the rest of the painting depth. Nice!
Thank you Melody! I hadn’t thought of that, but you’re right. I re-read my post this morning and realized that I described my process incorrectly… I veiled the right side of the painting… not the left! Right Brain syndrome strikes again 🙂
This is a very exciting painting, Ruth! It is colorful and grabs me right away with a sense of mystery and then I keep looking at it and see all your wonderful drawing and textures and MAN! It is everything I love in a painting. I love how bright and clear parts are, and then how veiled they are in other places. Fabulous. I am glad you stayed with it!
Awe, Thank you so much, Susan!