“Learning to Fly” © Ruth Armitage 2013 Transparent Watercolor 21×30″
I’ve been experimenting with so many different media lately: Oil, cold wax, acrylic, mixed drawing media…. that I decided to do a few paintings that are transparent watercolor only. One of the benefits of painting this way is that it allows me to layer thin veils of color to create interest.
This painting began with multiple colors sprayed over a sheer patterned and embossed piece of fabric that had been wrapped around a grocery store bouquet. That left a faint floral pattern that is slightly visible in the right hand side of the painting in blues and violets. Superimposing my aerial farm view on this floral pattern brought up all kinds of thoughts about the subject, and provided me with some different shapes to work with in the interior areas of some of the bigger shapes. It pays to shake up my thinking!
I thought I would also share a couple of changes I made to the last painting I posted. Here it is before I took it to my critique group:
“Rift” ©Ruth Armitage 11×30″ Mixed Media on paper – original
This image was taken outdoors, and definitely has a more cool cast to the photo. I made several changes to the painting, including some line work in the dark green shapes, and adding a bit more hot pink line work in the upper right. I also decided not to crop quite as much of the painting as this photo shows. Here is the second version, this time photographed indoors. The reality of the color is sort of in between the two photos. I may need to get this one professionally photographed.
“Rift” ©Ruth Armitage 2013, Mixed Media on Paper 11″x30″
I appreciate your comments, keep ’em coming!
Both paintings are beautiful. I also love the format of the second one. Isn’t it funny how we can get stuck in certain formats and proportions? I’m drawn to squares, verticals, in the 14×11 kind of proportion. It would be fun to try something different.
Thanks Sue,
I have my friend, Ruth Ellen Hoag, to thank for the format of “Rift”. I was complaining and about to give up on that particular painting, when she got out the crop bars and cut it in half. The result was so much better! I wish I could say it was planned from the start, LOL!
I sure enjoy Learning to Fly, and Rift, as well. It immediately reminded me of the view of my family’s farm as seen from above and your version is motivating me to do something with all the photos I have of our farm, taken from a small airplane a few years back. There’s so much content in our memories of place, isn’t there? we’ve no need to go looking for something new when our personal history is rich in memory. Good job with both paintings, and congrats on place as a finalist in The Artists Magazine.
Thanks Jo,
Memories of a place you’ve lived are numerous and special. Painting these has been a way for me to hold on to the memories.
Keep pushing the boundaries… it was good enough for Picasso and it’s good enough for us 🙂
I’m so enjoying your newer work and congratulations on the reception you’re receiving with it.
Congrats Ruth! Beautiful paintings!
thanks Blenda!