Sketchbook.

I have been experimenting using fine liner, drawing very shallow water, just where it covers the gravel. I have been thinking about not only mark making with the debris that I find and supporting this with sketches, but how I am going to take this forward into concrete work, that communicates my story. Unfortunately I am still running at a 100 mph and still don’t feel I have honed in exactly how I would like to proceed with this personal investigation. So keep on experimenting and make work!

Shallow water stones.

Shallow water stones.

Shallow water stones.

Margarthe Vanderpass’s water paintings remind of Hockney’s swimming pools. Both indicative of surface and depth. When you look very closely the brush marks are visible and you can see the multiple layers of paint built up.

The fluidity and complexity of the painting makes you wonder what is underneath. The smooth brush strokes and use of colour, picks up the effect of light so perfectly. The painting is fluid, moving in the warmth, the water feels cool. The way the shadow is drawn with a solid colour and the paitined rhythmic patterns, create ripples over the rocks. The stones and larger boulders, are smooth and tidy, they seem to be well rounded with the force of the water, not sharp and jagged as though they were at the edge somewhere, these pebbles look immersed in this water and give the opinion they have been there sometime.

Dancing Light – ©Magarethe Vanderpass.

This is drawn on my iPad using procreate. As I drew, I realised that the more white I used the better the reflections worked. I shall re work this later on as a gouache or acrylic painting and try soften the edges a little.

Using poured acrylics these water paintings were created with layering four or five different hues of blue and grey paint, and then using the cold air from a hair drier to manipulate the mixing. To some extent I can control the ripples, however time is short, as the paint dries very quickly. From experience of working with these paints, for me, it doesn’t work so well when you try and add on top, it’s better to use too much paint than too little.

I have a box where I store bits that I find and are perhaps not ready to use. I started to give some thought to making make some collagraphs. I will continue with these as I move forward.