India ink and gouache on Fabriano paper, 30”h x 22”w framed

On view at the Rhode Island Watercolor Society (July 11-August 14) this painting received the honorable mention for the exhibition “Anything Goes” curated by Irena Roman.

HONORABLE MENTION

Juror's Comments: "This striking painting with its somewhat limited palette really stands out. It is bold and adventurous, with its juicy and saturated application of the watercolor. Maybe ‘gutsy’ would be the best way to describe it. One of the biggest compliments one can receive on a watercolor painting is that it still looks wet. This painting is a perfect example of that!"

Inspired by the arrival of spring, I found a bouquet of dried hydrangeas in a vase that still held a small amount of water. I began by masking the paper with painter’s tape, then flooded the surface with clear water using a wide Japanese brush. India ink flowed freely across the wet paper, establishing the composition through a balance of intention and chance. Quick strokes suggested the stems and the shifting refractions of water within the glass vase. Once the ink had dried, I layered gouache over it, gradually building the hydrangea blossoms. The painting celebrates the quiet beauty of ordinary objects while embracing the unpredictable nature of watercolor and ink.