Gunther's Ice Cream was built in 1947, the year I was born. On a hot, hot summer's night here in Sacramento, the joint rocks! This is a watercolor painting is on 140 cold press arches watercolor paper. Its about 20"X 30". I NEVER stretch my paper, and when I paint, I purposely "miss" areas or, in other words, I do not cover every square millimeter with paint. The small missed areas are called "holidays", an old maritime word from the age of sail. These holidays provide the painting with an energetic sparkle along with my splattering. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Another happy painting of another happy place
Gunther's Ice Cream was built in 1947, the year I was born. On a hot, hot summer's night here in Sacramento, the joint rocks! This is a watercolor painting is on 140 cold press arches watercolor paper. Its about 20"X 30". I NEVER stretch my paper, and when I paint, I purposely "miss" areas or, in other words, I do not cover every square millimeter with paint. The small missed areas are called "holidays", an old maritime word from the age of sail. These holidays provide the painting with an energetic sparkle along with my splattering. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!
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13 comments:
i absolutely love this painting! the subject first and then then colors and technique. i also like your holidays. i have noticed that i like many artist's work with "holidays". when i left white spots in my paintings, my watercolor teacher would say to put some paint over the white of the paper. until reading your post about this painting, i didn't know what or why i liked the "holidays" and thought something was wrong with me. but, i agree, they add beautiful sparkle!
Such cheerful colors!It IS a happy painting!
An absolutely gorgeous painting, David. It speaks to me on so many levels, really. I love the retro look to the place (well, it is retro now; it wasn't when it was built). The wet street and reflections are perfection and that old sign? Wow!
I love the composition and the free, fresh look of the painting. And 'holidays' is what gives them such a spontaneous feel! - now I have wonderful something to say if I get a comment again like the one I did a while ago (sloppy brushwork-she said).
Liana, Nothin ain't wrong with you at all! Long live holidays! Glad you like this piece, Liana.
Thanks, Arti. Hopefully as cheerful as that wonderful Indian holiday when you cover your face with colors!
Autuumn, Thanks. That old sign lights up at night and is animated! The soda jerk flips a scoop of ice cream from his right hand scoop to his left hand scoop!
Meera, Brush work can indeed be sloppy or purposeful. To get these holidays, I "dance" or mop my brush diagonally, vertically, and horizontally. You have to practice this to make it purposeful.
I'm very happy for you and your father, Prabha. Eat more ice cream!
This one really is fantastic, and I'll have to remember those "holidays." I hope to learn to utilize them more in my paintings.
Holidays rock, Rhonda! Well, maybe not all the time, but I do utilize them in most of my h2o work.
I love everything about this painting! The subject is great fun but I mostly enjoyed the many great splashes of colors and the beautiful yin yang of warms and cools. I've never heard of "holidays", a delightful name for a truly effervescent effect. By the way, what did Bernie think of his portrait?
Thank you, Terri (splatter) Buchholz!
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