I have been a water color artist for 35 years now (how time marches on!). I teach water color painting at Sacramento City College and conduct many workshops at different venues within the Northern Calif. region. But about 3 years ago some commission work came my way that had to be painted larger than your standard 22"x30" water color sheet size...we're talking around 5 feet x 8 feet. I've done gyclee enlargements about that size, but these pieces had to be origional art. So...I decided to fullfill my commission obligations by switching from water color to acrylic. As a water color artist, and with my relatively fast working style, I really learned to enjoy my new found medium! If I paint something not to my satisfaction, I need only wait a few minutes, and I'm ready to paint over it. I can correct or play within a short time span! Not much time to blend colors like an oil painter, but the trade off is worth it. I may change that thought in the future, but again, the ability to improve or change a painting without waiting for a long drying period is exciting!
I am new to blogging as well. I deleted my first one a few minutes ago, because I forgot to attach "Barry". "Barry" is a full sheet water color painting on water color cold press paper. It is a portrait of big league baseball pitcher Barry Zito. This was a commission from his publicist. She gave it to him as a Christmas present in 2006. In the near future, I want to post some blogs with thoughts and images pertaining to my acrylic plein air endeavors... and of course, hopefully get some feedback from fellow painters.
