Mist and Moss: new work from the studio
“Mist and Moss” Watermedia on Paper, 30×22″
One of the things I loved about growing up on the farm was that nature was always there to explore. Although I know it is hard to believe now, I was a quiet child. When I was struggling with something, my favorite way to cope was to walk in the forest or sit by a small stream or ditch and observe nature.
Some of my favorite poetry evokes this calming spirit:
“THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS” BY WENDELL BERRY
My most recent painting was an attempt to recreate the feeling of soft fog, mist and moss, without actually rendering a pond, a stream or a fallen log. I wanted the feeling of many interconnected organisms breathing life into a forest. The water, the trees, the animals, the fungi as one breathing unit. Because I wanted the feeling of flowing water, I chose to use a high horizon line as my design.
I hope you will enjoy this peek into my process. I’m using watercolor to begin, and then adding gouache (opaque watercolor) and a bit of Golden High Flow Acrylic. I also mixed in a bit of iridescent pigment by Jacquard. I love the subtle sparkle!
I’d be interested in your feedback on this video. Do you find it valuable? I wish that my setup would allow me to film in the orientation that I imagined the painting, but it was much easier to work horizontally on my table. I decided not to attach music to the video, as I couldn’t find a piece that expressed what I wanted to say with the painting.
If you find it interesting, leave me a comment or a question! Or share this with a friend or on your favorite social media outlet.
What fun! Thank you so much for sharing your creative energy and this inspirational painting.
Thanks Linda!
Thanks for sharing. I love it and love watching the process. Encourages me. Still want to come visit your studio someday.
Thanks Katey! You are welcome to visit any time! Just email me to make sure I will be home ?
Thanks Katey! You are welcome to visit any time! Just email me to make sure I will be home ?
You’ve done it again, Ruth… created a masterpiece. I love the soft colors that remind me of the moist mornings here in Oregon. And I liked watching you working on it via the video. It’s helpful to see how you apply layers to the piece as you progress through to the final results, understanding how you used transparancy and opacity along with linework to create a complex and beautiful painting. I hope you do more videos just like this. Thanks.
Thank you so much, Jo! I love my new setup, because I can just turn on the camera and forget it 🙂 Glad the painting gives you a feeling of a soft damp morning 🙂
Watching this video was an inspiring and informative experience! I loved being able to see your process after reading about the childhood experiences that inspired this painting. This is a video I would enjoy watching repeatedly! Thanks so much for sharing the written blog and the video!!!
Thank you Jansi! I am glad you found it helpful. Happy painting!
Well that was interesting, you had me guessing the whole time! So educational!
Thanks Randall!
Wow! Thanks so much for this demo! I am curious. I sort of got that you tipped the board but I couldn’t tell if it was ever on an easel. Also, did you use some opaques on the “second day”? SO wish I could get down there for a workshop! Well done, Ruth!
Thanks Dee! I didn’t use an easel. I was working on a drafting table for ease of filming. I may have used some acrylic on day 2 but it was more likely just opaque gouache!
Thanks, Ruth! I like the opacity of the gouache. Great job!
Thank you Ruth. It is always a pleasure to watch you work. Inspires me and I can’t wait to show this to my grandson who I think will be fascinated as a seven-year-old Artist
Thanks Leslie, I hope he enjoys it too! I love watching kids create!
Such an flowing process to watch. Thank you for so
generously sharing.
Roxce
You’re welcome, Roxce! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂