Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Beavering away


I'm coming up for air - it's been intense, the last few days! It took so long to get going and put paint on paper - finding loads of references, making sketches, composing, adjusting, tracing, masking. This doesn't feel like the feel-good watercolour experience that I fantasise about! It's really illustration rather than painting - so many figures, so much 'action' and colour that the client is looking for. I've been noting down odd thoughts that pass briefly and inconsequentially through my head - in between the necessary puzzling about what is the exact colour I can place just there!?...

i) I don't like masking fluid
ii) very precious about using all my new watercolours up on this project
iii) This is like drawing storyboards all over again ( in a previous life in advertising)
iv) I don't like tracing and careful outlines... I like loose! I like free!
v) Can I paint township scenes when I don't live in a township?
vi) Life isn't this ecstatic in the townships
vii) but sometimes it is, against all odds
viii) Things don't turn out the way you think they will
There - an exclusive look inside the intricate workings of my creative mind. Back to the drawing board/s!...

...very bright drawing boards - and BIG, on half-sheets Fabriano - no subtleties here!

8 comments:

Gillian said...

Hi Cath - thinking of you as beaver through this project. From my point of view, it looks very exciting; I can't wait to see the finished works. Hang in there! Sounds like you've learnt a LOT about how you like to work and that is important. Perhaps you should think of this experience like birthing pains. The end result will be so worth it.

Gillian said...

I just realized (dah) that the bottom trio ARE complete! But I can't make them pop up bigger? Can you post them so we can see more clearly?
Are you totally exhausted?

Cathy Gatland said...

Oh no - not duh, they still have a way to go... but I'm really tired - of making little decisions as much as anything. There's a LOT to be said for a limited palette! Hoping to finish by Friday... will put bigger, clearer ones on then. I can't make that one pop up either :-?

laura said...

These are really wonderful; and thanks for showing the one in progress--it's amazing to see it emerge. Enjoy your musing too! I don't like masking fluid either. And, I think you definitely should paint the townships, because you paint them with such love! ;-)

Cathy Gatland said...

Thanks Laura - I appreciate some egging on now with the last haul to the finish!

Vivienne said...

Ag shame, you poor darling. This sounds like such hard work. Well done; they are looking great and I am sure your client will be overjoyed. And that you can decide whether you want to do more or not, rather than face it as a chore.Really, the life and charm in them is going to make them very special indeed. Lots of love.

Cathy Gatland said...

...a tea break with some sympathy included - Thanks :o) Ja, at this stage I'm kind of dreading that he might want six more! I should have started off simple...

Unknown said...

These are wonderful! So much action, so many bright colors. I think they are perfect, but I think you are right. Real life is not this happy all the time. But you did a spectacular job of making it all look like you had observed it just this way.