This was done in the last day of Patsy Blasdell’s workshop put on by the NMWS Southern Chapter. The apples are made from a variety of oranges, reds and red purples with spots of turquoise in them in fact. Fun fun! Colors are used throughout the piece to give it harmony. This is a half sheet, one of only several I’ve done in that size.
I learned the most this day by watching how she paints, and hearing her thought process as she proceeds. Because the paper is wet thoroughly both front and back, and put on a glossy surface, it stays wet for an hour or two, less when it’s really dry in the room. I was focused on how she blends on the paper and thoughtfully places a stroke, evaluates, it thinks about the patterns of lights and darks she wants, and then places more strokes, mingling the colors on the paper. She works top to bottom with the board and paper almost on a vertical on an easel. I used that position to make the drips along the bottom portion of this half sheet.
There is so much more to say about what I learned in this workshop, but frankly, I have to get painting again today! so more later…thanks for stopping by!
Rachel Murphree Watercolors 