Wednesday, April 6, 2016

"It's Just a Sketch"
By Jan Wittmer

Painting the landscape is a way for me to express visually and share a moment in nature that affected me. The process of painting that moment, is an intimate and personal event, that often takes me to "another place".
For several years I have been working in oils, a mighty challenge, one that I have tackled wholeheartedly. Recently upon reflecting on my commitment to oil painting, I realized I was trying too hard. 




I love the rich color

of oils, and the lushness

of thick paint...
But I have to work more
deliberately to move the
paint around. 



 When I started using watercolors to make small studies in a sketchbook, with pencil and watercolor (which I had never really used), I discovered a looseness, an opportunity to explore and a spontaneity that seems to come with the medium.






And so what if
            you make a mistake....        



"It's only A sketch"
                       

                              
                                                                                                
                                                  




Realizing how liberating this was for me, my fellow artists encouraged me to go bigger. I not only went bigger, but began exploring textures and techniques.
                                                    



   




        


 In time I will open my

oil box again and

may have a different
approach
after working with
watercolors.


Who knows where watercolor will take me, but I am having fun
exploring and finding it easier to get lost with this
medium that invites beautiful mistakes.























 





























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