Let's Hear it From the Past...

Below are two  early watercolor paintings of mine. These images, like many others of that period, was drawn from my imagination, with no model. The images would occur by starting to sketch lightly on the page, and as I continued, an expressive figure would appear. Then I would add simple soft color. The second painting below  illustrates this approach, although here the colors are stronger to create something more dynamic. I didn't see the figures in my head or imagination, but they just came together as I drew. The watercolor, especially in the second piece, is allowed more freedom to explore than is typical of my more recent paintings. It's interesting that there are qualities in one's paintings of the early years that are simply intuitive and raw. As one becomes more learned, schooled, skilled, the kind of control the artist can command seems to eliminate that natural language of expression. If you click on the paintings, you will be able to see an enlarged version of each.