I have pulled out my watercolour painting kit to keep me rolling along while my studio is out of action. It’s fun to go back to where it all started, rediscover (hopefully!) those skills, practice drawing again and work on a smaller scale for a change.
I was painting yesterday. I had a drawing of some wallflowers I was pleased with and I was keen to explore the unusual orange/reds and pink/purples of the blooms. But I rushed. I got too bold. I got heavy handed. The result is clumsy.
It seems I will also be aiming to regain some deftness. I very much admire deftness in art. Wherever a work falls on the realistic-to-abstract spectrum, deftness is a virtue. Deftness, for me, lends a transparency (not necessarily literal), a clarity, and speaks loudly of care and skill. I seem to have lost it, or at least found that deftness in large-scale, acrylic on canvas exploring bold colours using unusual tools is a very different beast.
I’m not sure I can save this little painting but it has become a good exercise and valuable reminder. The next one will be better.
Until then,
Kirsten
Everyday Thoughts of an Artist 