Three Recent Small Works on Paper

Exploring some squiggly lines in 12×12 inch watercolor paintings.

Sploosh!
Mixed media on watercolor
12″ x 12″
© 2013 Marilyn Fenn
“Swoosh!” Watercolor with mixed media on watercolor paper 12″ x 12″ © 2013 Marilyn Fenn
“Bottleneck” Watercolor on watercolor paper 12″ x 12″ © 2013 Marilyn Fenn

“It’s Spring!”

"It's Spring!* Watercolor and ink on Portofino paper 6" x 6" © 2013 Marilyn Fenn
“It’s Spring!” Watercolor on Portofino paper 6″ x 6” © 2013 Marilyn Fenn

I usually consider that spring has arrived when our neighbor’s gorgeous saucer magnolia tree blooms, and that happened about February 7th this year — a bit early, I think.  That’s also usually the same time that the redbuds start to bloom, and they bloomed beautifully, but now the blooms are gone.  I didn’t even take any pictures of those this year, for no good reason(!).

But it has seemed to be cooler this spring than other years of late, and I know some of you have still been getting some snow!  So, in celebration of a gorgeous spring for everyone (in this hemisphere), here’s another new painting.

60th Painting of the Year

“Not-So-Daily Painting 2013-60” Watercolor on Portofino paper 6″ x 6” © 2013 Marilyn Fenn

OK, so most of them are small or very small little watercolors on paper.  I am trying to do one every day, but sometimes, the larger works (and life, too) consume me completely.  Still, I find doing one of these almost every day to be a very good exercise.  I have to keep finding new images, new arrangements, new palette choices to put on paper.  Invention happens.  🙂

New Watercolor: “Splat!”

"Splat!" Watercolor and gouache on Sennelier cold-press watercolor paper 12" x 12" © 2013 Marilyn Fenn
“Splat!” Watercolor and gouache on Sennelier cold-press watercolor paper 12″ x 12″ © 2013 Marilyn Fenn

I thought I’d try out the Sennelier watercolor block I discovered the other day buried in my studio.  Watercolor is a medium I’m not terribly familiar with.  I did maybe 10-12 large watercolor still lifes back in the late ’80s, but otherwise, I have mostly avoided it — except for small watercolor pencil drawings (paintings?) over the last few years — until just a few weeks ago.

This time, I soaked the paper pretty thoroughly, taped it down, and started to paint.  Hours later, the paper was still mostly wet, and the colors were still bleeding.  So, this is messier than I’m completely comfortable with, but there it is, FWIW.

They Can’t All Be Perfect

"Wheeeee!" - Watercolor and gouache on heavy Raffine paper - 5.25" x 5.5" - © 2013 Marilyn Fenn
“Wheeeee!” Watercolor and gouache on heavy Raffine paper 5.25″ x 5.5″ © 2013 Marilyn Fenn

From earlier this month — I almost had to throw this one away, but I think I more or less saved this watercolor with the judicious addition of a bit of gouache…and more stuff!
FWIW