Watercolor............PANIC!

Watercolors…..

I’ve been painting forever. I’ve learned a few things during those years and a great number of those things are now under the heading of “Don’t EVER do that again!” It seems that I am one of those hard-headed people who won’t take advice from those who “know”; unfortunately, I have to learn the hard way.

As I scan down that list of things to not try again, I see “Watercolors”. I added that to my list so many years ago that I truly think it happened when I was in high school! I have never been a fan of painting with watercolors, but I admire watercolorists greatly! Anyone who can keep their strokes clean, crisp and pure is to be put on a pedestal. David Gross, my studio partner, is one of those. Not only can he keep those strokes perfect, but he is prolific. I spoke with him around noon today and he had completed 8 paintings this morning!
A month ago, David convinced me I should give it a try. In typical Kay fashion, I needed to have my hand held, needed to be shown exactly how to do it….I was paralyzed the moment I picked up the brush! It is indeed strange how desperate I am to not look stupid! David commented on my hesitation; he said “if that was a new recipe you would dive right in!” How right he was. Cooking is in my comfort zone….
watercolor painting is not.

Now that I have spent the last few weeks working exclusively in watercolor, the panic feeling has disappeared, but I still hesitate before I dip that wet brush into a pan of vibrant color.

So, why am I telling you this? I’m not sure, other than I think I am having fun! It turns out, as I thought in the beginning, I am not a watercolorist, but I am, as I always knew, a freak for collage. As the stack of failures piled up on my desk, I knew I had to salvage them some way. David had provided wonderful (and very expensive) watercolor paper for me to work on and I simply could not just toss them in the trash. Out came the scissors, the glue, the markers. My first watercolor collage is above.
It isn't too impressive, I know, but it is a start.  I just keep repeating those words, my new mantra....
"Clean, crisp pure....Clean, crisp, pure..."
Who knows, it might work.