This is the last of this picture -- for the moment at least, I hope. Enjoy!
It was painted on thickmountboard (not water-colour paper) with aquapasto, watercolour paint, Inktense, and black and tinted charcoal. The last of these was worked using a kneadable rubber. Most of the work was done long after midnight, when I could not sleep. I hope you like it.
Beautiful piece
Interesting painting. The sun and its reflection are very luminous. I like it!
I love your colors in the hillsides better than ever, seems like you have developed a real ability to make and apply delicate vibrant palette colors. Beautiful changes from earlier , seems like. . That dramatic sky really penetrates with that color. Seems like you’ve really upped your color development significantly. There is lots to like here brother. Congratulations.
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for your long and detailed comment, Kaliber. It was a pleasure to read.
Watercolour differs from oil or acrylic painting in that the paints have a mind of their own. One puts the paint on the paper, and then the water decides how it will disperse it. The result can be all manner of unplanned and unanticipated patterns. To me these show as faces (both human and animal), other body parts, trees, flowers and all manner of other goodies. I don't try to get rid of them, but instead accept their presence as what watercolour artists call 'Happy Accidents'.
I use watercolour painting, however, as a means of trying to express myself: joy, anger, despair, dismay, elation. But that is me talking to me, and 'trying' is the operative word. For this one, I took time to look at the rising moon as seen from our house, where it rises over the sea and is indeed, on cloudless nights, surrounded by a halo of oranges, lemon yellows and purples.
As for what emotion you see in the picture, that is up to you -- and may change from one viewing to the next. What matters is that I am pleased if you enjoy looking. Some of the paintings, like the exercise in indigo, might take me just an hour or so. Others, like this, may take (say) five or six hours spread over a few days. But the time taken is immaterial. More time does not make a more moving piece of work -- Michelangelo's chapel ceiling being an exception (but an exceptionally large piece of work too).
I shall keep painting, but I think it's time I chose a different reference photograph to work from. No?
Have always enjoyed your work and enjoyed your analogy of the water having a mind of its own. Latter today I will get a chance to go to the lower garage and take some pictures of a couple of water colors hanging there.
After reading this post I am curious if you know how the artist was able to control the paint that you referred to as having a mind of its own.
I tweaked my first reply Lol. As you saw I liked those “ happy accidents “ , they do add fun and interest. I think you get a lot of yourself in there, both in this work and the others you’ve posted as well. You aren’t afraid to try different mediums and techniques in combination. Looking forward to seeing your next work brother. Thank you for sharing again.
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One more thing, … you are right, the emotion actually does change from viewing to viewing. Looks different this morning than last night. Kewl. 😁😁😁
I love it!
Excellent work!! Thanks for the share Brent!
Big fan of yours, keep on keeping on Brent
I swear that looks like the sun..... but what do I know that's not my neighborhood....
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n
Hi j-o-h-n. If it looks like the sun to you, then it's the sun. I have looked from our house at the moon rising over the sea, and that is what I saw as long as the moon was near enough to the horizon. So, to me it's the moon. Let's split the difference and call it either the Mun or the Soon. I think the former might be preferable.
Pob lwc, iechyd da a hiwmor da
Brent
Brilliant painting Brent.
My favorite so far! 🤩
I had to look up aquapasto and am intrigued so I just ordered a tube to try. Now I need to figure out how you’re using the charcoal
Except for the sky and the sun's reflection, which I wanted to keep clean, I covered the entire picture with soft charcoal. I smoothed it with kitchen tissue until it was evenly distributed; the washes beneath were now visible. Then I rubbed out the charcoal from each wash in turn until I had it looking the way I wished. I used charcoal pencils to pick up any details that had been lost. It is an exciting technique but takes nerve -- especially when you see your gorgeous painting disappearing under a layer of black!
Experiments are thrilling especially when they turn out great. Thanks, BrentW, I’ll give it a go when my aquapasto arrives.
Quite by chance, I scanned this image of the moonset (even I am getting confused as to whether it was the sun or the moon) after adding the charcoal but before lifting it out with the kneadable rubber. I thought the image would have been lovely as it is, with the paint washes showing through very darkly. So, here it is. I think it will make a delightful next version of this picture, with all five making a nice grouping.
Yes, as before great work. 🤩
I remember helping at an art show once where volunteers were asked to hang the art pieces that were shipped in before the artists came to the show. As the pieces were being hung there was much debate as to whether or not the pieces were hung correctly. Many artists forgot to put instructions on how they wanted it hung. Just before the show opened one artist was walking through the display and stopped in her tracks. She took the piece off the hanger and flipped it around. Apparently it was upside down based on her own design. We all were surprised as we thought it looked great the way it was hung.
So yes, the eye of the beholder is what makes it interesting.
I always thought unless it has an obvious top and bottom it doesn’t really matter how it’s hung if it makes you happy.
Beautiful painting Brent. Thanks so much for sharing.
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