Encore

It has been busy to say the least.

Some of it good busy and some of it not so good.

But in between I manage to actually sit at my table and focus.

"Encore", Watercolor, 22" x 30"

©Carmella Tuliszewski

A little intense with the color this one is.

That was the plan all along and I loved making all these vibrant hues work together.

When I set my bottles up in bright morning sun everything just sparkles and bounces off one another.  The shadows of violet, fuchsia and lime green enhance the color of the bottles and change the fabric beneath everywhere they land.

I begin in the back and labor over one bottle at a time.

I'm an instant gratification junkie and need to see finished pieces as I go.

The colors need to be layered many times to get the effect of tints and shades.

It usually is a slow go but the process is the thing for me.

Almost there at this point.

I use as little white as possible,

usually just to hit tiny highlights at the very end.

I use Winsor & Newton Colourless Art Masking Fluid.

Always works very well.

This is painted on 300 lb Arches Cold Press 

watercolor paper, which I do not soak and stretch.

I believe the colors stay more true when the sizing is not washed off and

I do not like to be encumbered by a board under the paper.

At least not on these large pieces.

And here is where it began.

A long process indeed but to me so worth it.

So back to my busy life, in the garden, with my grandchildren,

hanging out with my newly retired husband and 

trying to keep the house clean and the food cooked!

Happy Mother's Day!