Mom and Her Mom

Debra Jones · 06-11-2003, 07:34 PM

I am half-way through a class by Ted Nuttall. I am not a watercolorist as there are only 24 hours in the day, but I had $150 of left over scholarship money and I like his work.

The challenge was to work from a black and white photo, so this piece is of my two foremoms from a 1" x 2" photo booth shot, circa 1957.

The technique was work for me, but I see a definite marketablity.

Catherine Muhly · 06-11-2003, 09:41 PM

Ooooh, nice!! Hard to market things you'd rather keep. Make some gicl

Denise Hall · 06-12-2003, 10:31 AM

Debra,

This has a very fresh, alive look! The watercolor technique you are using is perfect for transforming black and white to color obviously. It makes me want to get my watercolors out and try some of my beautiful mother and her sisters. I have so many black and whites. Your style in watercolor looks effortless. I see marketability in it for you also.

Congratulations!

Denise

Debra Jones · 06-12-2003, 10:57 AM

First, Catherine, although they are divorced, Dad still thinks A. I am the greatest artist on earth and B. he and mom are still a number. Since it is from a time when he could be considered a participant in this end of the family, I printed him out a 95% inkjet which turned out spectacular for Father's Day. Whew.

Denise, Ted Nuttall is a Charles Reid associate. Friend first, student second and got his credentials by having Mr. Reid walk him into the front office and tell them to put him on the faculty! Good reference, eh?

The class is a 180 for me. I am an opaque, alla prima pastel/oil painter and the discipline for a non-anal sort like I, is producing some wildly unexpected results. Ted pours (well that may not be the proper term, but the wash he pulls on the page is long and fluid, it seems like pouring) a multicolor wash as the full under painting and does remarkably little in the details. My own impatience is what seems to be rushing this deliberate process and I am taking my errors and working with them. It may be that after a few more pieces, I will lose the erratic texture but right now, it is holding my breath and diving in.

I am pretty excited. I want to try a couple more general figurative, but have two individuals I will be trying soon so I can post over here again.

Valerie Gudorf · 06-12-2003, 08:02 PM

Debra,

This is wonderful! So fresh. One would never know that you don't work in this medium all the time. What's amazing is that you had the self discipline to lay down your washes and then just let them be. It is so easy to piddle around with the brush in an attempt to have more control. It's the fastest way to muddy the colors and kill what would otherwise be a wonderful painting. But you obviously didn't fall into that trap. Bravo!

Patt Legg · 06-15-2003, 08:57 PM

Great work, Debra. Looking at this made me want to dig out my watercolors again. I have painted in oils most of my life and call my watercolors "play" due to the fact that I am not trained in them but love the spontaneity of using them. I am assuming that you like the loose freshness of the watercolor?

Great job and I absolutely love it.

Patt

Elizabeth Schott · 06-15-2003, 10:24 PM

Wow Debra, I just don't know how you watercolor guys do it!