Deb Ward, GWS, OWS, PWS, WSI - WATERCOLOR/WATER MEDIA - My passion is teaching adult “beginners”. Weekly classes in my home; workshops; classes for Cincinnati Recreation Commission. My work is nationally recognized and published - see “Featured” on my sidebar. I’m a Signature Member of Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana state Watercolor Societies, Cincinnati Art Club, past-President of Greater Cincinnati Watercolor Society. Contact info below under “Class Information”

Sunday, September 4, 2011

ORIENTAL ROSES

There are times that we create a painting that comes out on paper just the way we saw it inside our heads. This is one of those paintings.

I had started it before our June retreat week and took it, along with the old rusty car, to work on.
After messing up the old rusty car background, a bit gun shy, I tentatively moved on to this painting.
I find that the paintings that I paint in my head, over and over, are the ones that (usually) turn out the best for me.

I spent the better part of that week working on this painting, edging right up to the last day before it was complete.

I’ve mentioned before that I paint slow, really s l o o o o w, and that watching me paint is like watching grass grow! My friends were all urging me on and were very patient with me, not making a sound during some intense moments. If you knew them, you would realize what a major feat of will power that was!!

When I returned home, the painting sat on the easel for a while as I tweaked it here and there until I finally felt there was no more I could do.

I immediately entered it into a show and hoped for the best; but I knew that if it didn’t get accepted into that show there would be others I would enter – I feel strongly that this is a very good painting.
Here it is!
Oriental Roses, 22x30, fluid acrylic on Arches watercolor paper

PS – This painting was accepted, along with All Mixed Up, into the Rising Sun (Indiana) 8th Juried Art Exhibition. There were quite a few well known and respected area artists in this show, so I felt good about being accepted. However, no award for me! Oh well! My work looked good on the wall, I saw and chatted with some folks I hadn’t seen in a while, and my husband and I had a delicious dinner with friends following the awards ceremony. All in all, a pleasant evening.

14 comments:

Christiane Kingsley said...

Deb, what a beauty! You must have gone almost blind painting that intricate background. The details on the vase are also amazing. I love it and am sure that this painting will win many awards.

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Wow Deb, I am thinking you were kidnapped by Zentanglers! This must have used a whole bottle of your Pebeo Drawing Gum!

From everybody I have heard from who has tried Zentangle, they instantly became addicted and almost shun their watercolors. But, I can see some interesting possibilities for backgrounds of watercolor subjects...NOT! There is no way I have the patience (or time) to do something like this wonderful painting, but I can so appreciate your skill in painting this one. The drawing alone would have sent me away to a quiet therapy center for months. Like I said, Wow!

Carrie Waller Watercolors said...

It is a gorgeous painting!!! I would love to see this in person!
Congratulations on the exhibit!

Studio at the Farm said...

WOW! What a delicate and exquisite painting! I think you should definitely take ALL the time you want.

Carol Blackburn said...

Awesome job, Deb. Congratulations on being accepted into the exhibition. If this didn't win an award I'd like to see those that did! Such detail, so perfectly created.

RH Carpenter said...

WOW WOW WOW!

Joan Sandford-Cook said...

Incredibly beautiful - where do you get all that patience from? Those fluid (we call inks) acrylics are so wonderful to work with but I doubt I'd ever achieve this in my quick dash splish splash method!!

Ann Buckner said...

What an interesting painting, Deb. Love the vase and flowers but that intricate background is amazing.

Gaylynn said...

How beautiful Deb! Don't stop with this show, you should enter it in others. I think it is a WINNER!! The roses are so delicate and the table cloths detail...as always your work amazes me.

debwardart said...

Christiane - I remain hopeful!
Thanks Susan - it becomes very Zen-like!
Thanks Carrie.
Kathryn - I do take all the time (plus more!)
Carol - thanks - and I wonder why I get dizzy!!!
Thanks Rhonda!
Joan, we each have our own style, but this (usually!) works for me.
Thanks Ann - but we usually say "interesting" when we mean - "yikes, what the heck is that!" LOL
Gaylynn, I plan on a few more entries for this one. After all, as the judge said, he might have juried in a different show on a different day - it's all subjective (we are only human!), so I don't take it personally.

Kim Vanlandingham said...

Deb, this painting is amazing! The competition must have been pretty stiff! Lovely as always! Fun talking with you on the phone too! It's always great to chat a bit with a local artist!

debwardart said...

Thanks Kimberly. Ditto and hope to see you soon!

yati said...

This is really a beautiful painting. And this is something you saw in your head? Unbelievable.

Anonymous said...

Deb has the patience of a saint, and I her husband take full credit for that--she had 34 years of practice thanks to her marriage to me--Deb's husband