Painting Wedge

                                                                                       (C) 2024 Dale DiMauro

In watercolor painting you usually follow the bead down the page. That is the edge of the paper is where it is wet or damp is where the pigment travels to. This edge between wet and dry paper is where one can manipulate the pigment and paper with a wide range of techniques and is very expressive.

Since it is difficult to hold my paper at a consistent angle I thought it would be good to explore ways of developing an aid to my painting.

A few weeks ago when the temperature outside was mild I figured it was comfortable enough to work in my garage. I had been developing through trial and error the dimensions and slope to construct this painting 'wedge'.

This lopsided box comes in real handy. I can tape a watercolor sheet to it and create a painting or I can lean a watercolor block on it and go from there. Also, I can lean a full sheet of mounted watercolor paper(on a board) over this structure and I have a nice consistent surface to paint on.

This surface was entirely constructed with materials(ie. wood, screws, glue, paint) I had at home. I am glad and proud of constructing this painting aid and look forward to using it going forward.

Completing A Painting

                                                                                       (C) 2024 Dale DiMauro
 

There are paintings that I have started in the past which I did not complete for a variety of reasons. Sometimes I ran out of time, other times I didn't like the paper I was experimenting with. Or as in plein air I might get caught in a downpour of rain.

Over time I have found I am very comfortable going back and finishing what I started with a fresh perspective. In the meantime my painting approach and palette have evolved quite a bit.

However, I am frugal in many regards and do not want to waste paper. Many times I will end up with watercolors painted on both sides of my watercolor sheet.

This little landscape I added to today, even though it probably was originally started four years ago. More work was done to the sky as I have been experimenting with cloud patterns and coloring close to the horizon.

Brattleboro Outing Club

                                                                                           (C) 2024 Dale DiMauro
 

With the lack of snow locally it has been a difficult year for cross country skiing. Even today I was thinking there must be some place I can get a ski in before the season is truly over. Part of my thinking is that this is the best time of year to be out in nature with the longer days and warmer noon hour. So it definitely has been frustrating.

However, I have been on my cross country skis six times this winter, with the paltry conditions, which is something in of itself. 

I painted this watercolor based on one of my more recent outings. In one of the last accumulations of snow we had, the landscape forms were so well-defined in white or darks that I had to record the scene in paint. There is a stillness to this picture which I love.

MOUTH ATOMIZER

                                                                                  (C) 2024 Dale DiMauro
 

Painting the landscape, for me, is an endless fascination of observing the landscape on my walks, experimenting with different techniques and simplifying my compositions.

I keep practicing with this mouth atomizer which I purchased many years ago. It is way different than merely tapping your paint brush against your hand. With this tool I can put down value rapidly across the paper, yet in a random delivery, devoid of brush marks.

It seems like a cool development in my painting arsenal, yet, I need more experience and judgement in using this approach. I certainly won't use it in every painting I do, but when necessary, it can add a magical touch.

The above watercolors demonstrate my latest application of the mouth atomizer. I have been utilizing this instrument in my landscape painting to gain more substance, texture and shadowing than I have done in the past.

Warmth & Light

                                                                                             (C) 2024 Dale DiMauro
 

So far, this winter seems like a long, slow, slog through the calendar. One plus is the length of light which is beginning to seem magical, late in the day.  For me the lack of snow has been rather dis-orienting. Is it winter or spring? 

The other day I rode my bike on the bike trail and many people were preparing for a snowstorm the next day which we did not receive. However, there was a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. Go figure, so far, that pretty much sums up this winter. 

Yesterday I painted this watercolor. It works for me when the shadows help frame the focal point. I experienced this scene last fall yet it seems like it was ages ago. More to the point, it appears like the lovely fall foliage full of colors, is from a distant past.

J.M.W. TURNER

                                   
Joseph Mallard William Turner(1775-1851) was an english painter, printmaker and watercolorist. He is known for expressive coloring, imaginative landscapes and turbulent, often, violent marine paintings. He is credited with painting 550 oil paintings, 2,000 watercolors and 30,000 works on paper.*

I had been looking for a book on J.M.W. Turner for some time that was well-researched with good quality photographs of his work. Several decades ago I become aware of a growing interest in the work of Turner. Little did I know there was one in my library.

This book: Turner: The Great Watercolours was written by Eric Shanes, I understand for an exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London(2000-2001). 

Since I have just started reading this book in earnest I can't really speak of anything in particular about Turner. However, this book has already inspired me to plunge deeper into his existence and the techniques and approaches that he grappled with.

* The first paragraph is taken from Turner's wikipedia profile.

West River

                                                                                            (C) 2024 Dale DiMauro
 

Painting the landscape is always informative. Whether it is emphasizing a contour in the landscape, tweaking the horizon or simply observing a color outside, it is rewarding to capture the landscape, in some way.

What inspired me in this scene is both the curve of the West River and the intense blue of that body of water. There is also a freshness to the snow conveying a strong contrast in colors which is very appealing.

This is painted on 300lb Arches cold press watercolor paper. Even though it is a thicker paper I find that I still need to wet the backside to keep it from buckling.

Mouth Atomizer

                                                                                      (C) 2024 Dale DiMauro
 

Using a mouth atomizer completely changes your painting. It can add value to your foreground, offer a sense of movement or convey textures among other things.

So, you still may ask, what actually is a mouth atomizer? Basically, it is an L-shaped tube which you blow air into which spritzes out bits of pigment across your painting.

With practice it becomes easier to use. Along the way you will refine your technique to get paint where you want with the effect you might be after.

So far I have only used Paynes gray with this atomizer. Clearly, there are a bunch of other pigments one can experiment with. The above pattern looks like a swarm of insects or an abstract shadow pattern. I am still in the early stages of experimentation but I like playing with this new tool.