Watercolor

Class Watercolor Abstraction Series

Artists Statement:

As a medium, watercolor presents a manipulation like no other. Moving the liquid upon a page and diverting its streams with salts and alcohols add chaos to a primitive idea for a new piece. Unending freedom flows and creates results so unique that it feels as if the painting paints itself. Utilizing these innate natures within purposeful abstraction instills feelings of release and peace, especially while painting events that you hold close to your heart.

In class, we were tasked to paint six pieces representing different stages of our 2024 year based on photos we had already taken. A few of mine represented very personal experiences of being abroad in Chicago and reconnecting with friends, nature, and family. I painted them in no particular order, choosing the photos that spoke most to my heart and aesthetic senses. I would paint object by object, regardless of their place within the space. A process so free form that it allowed me to hone into those memories while working. While working on this project, I felt my comfort level with watercolor increase as I became more knowledgeable of the nature of the medium. Having to compromise with inefficient processes and struggling with deeper values created a one-of-a-kind experience reliving my 2024.

Our second project was a fully abstract triptych series where we had free reign over our creations. The inception of my project was the idea of changing one's physical presence. Over the course of three paintings, I depicted a creature longing for another form, its solitary rage through transformation, and its resulting final form among the stars. Incorporating the manipulation techniques I learned while media testing, I found a way to realize how I imagine it is to choose the way you innately are. The free-form brush strokes and mix of salt and alcohol and ink allowed me to sit with my thoughts and feelings and create a triptych I am proud of.