Three watercolors

Debra Jones · 04-28-2006, 12:19 AM

I am drumming up business at the Princess Hotel out here on Thursdays, just being decorative working on paintings. I have only had the weather for watercolors and the first was a duck, but the second last week was from a group of photos of one of our models, Athena. She was dancing for us and I started the tip jar and got a bunch of amazing photos.

The idea was to do lots of motion, but the demo called and the first was her sitting in this twist on 1/2 sheet of hot pressed. My peers have been telling me I was doing too much "cut out" looking things, so I sort of went all the way. Then I too the photo I really wanted and did a full sheet over the weekend. I was sailing! So today I revived a set of photos from Mexico and did the beggar I have done before. 1/4 sheet.

I keep avoiding watercolor because .... well, I like pastel and they BUY oils, but it was just great fun, mindless and gratifying to do these pieces.

Carol Norton · 04-28-2006, 09:49 AM

Debra, these are beautiful!!! Are you painting in the lobby of the hotel and selling to people who walk through? Very resourceful.

Ngaire Winwood · 04-29-2006, 12:28 AM

Debra, your vitality inspires me. I just love No.3. I am trying to find a word that suits it. I always make sure I read your posts, just to see your next pieces. Your confidence shows in any medium.

Tell us more of your set up you take with you, are you working indoors or out and how you go about the process of even asking to be there?

Last year I asked a tourism place promoting a historical building if I could use the grounds to practice my painting skills, while tourists did there thing around me. They were not only surprised but welcomed the idea as they had been thinking of getting musicians to come and play on weekends to entertain the tourists and thought I might become an attraction in itself. The only trouble is the place is so open as it sits on the plains and is windy and cold or extremely hot and dry all the time that it becomes uncomfortable after a couple of hours.

I have promised myself to do more plein air work from now on, so any assistance from a seasoned artist as yourself would be appreciated. I am trying to increase my skills so I can comfortably sit at a cafe and draw as long as I please. At the moment I am very amateurish and don't want others to see my work so hence I am sticking to still lifes for a while.