I'm pleased to share

I'm so pleased to share that my painting Twenty Thousand Stones has been awarded the Robert E. Goodier Memorial Award for Traditional Transparent Watercolor at Watercolor USA 2024 from the Springfield Art Museum in Springfield, Missouri.    

I don't normally do this but I'm going to take a moment to tell you about the process of creating this painting.  I have painted several paintings using my rock collection as the subject matter, but this time I wanted to do something really personal and different.   My goal was to share my own truth in an authentic and colorful way (unusual because my superpower is being an introvert).  I set my sights on completing the largest painting I have ever attempted; but it was the decision to use my own take on divisionism for the background that would make this painting unique.  I had access to some of the best examples of Signac's work available to me living in Arkansas and had always thought I could put my own mark on that style of painting.  But, this was going to take a level of focus and commitment that would keep me separated for a substantial part of the year. Each morning I would set an alarm and worked eight or more hours a day -  It was the only way it was going to get done.  I began this work in early Spring of 2023 working in my humid garage because it was the largest work space I had available. Asthma and allergies were my biggest obstacles in the beginning.  (Hooray for inhalers!)  I moved inside when Summer hit because the heat index was too intense. Staying true to my devotion to transparent watercolor each dot of color was made individually with a size 0 brush using mostly primary colors from my palette.  Nope, I did not throw paint at this like Pollock and I am sorry to tell you there are no hacks or shortcuts to share.  Each color was carefully chosen and delivered (again, my goal was to share my authentic self). I continued through Summer and into Fall with this schedule (less seven days for a wedding, funeral, and an art function). Most would have called it done, but I put sticky notes on areas I thought weren't quite right, and continued working.  I had struggled with pain in my shoulder from about the beginning of July, but by August the pain would take my breath away.  I considered that I had torn something, but didn't feel I had the luxury to stop and find out.  I did finally call the painting done and sent it to my scanner. (Okay, I admit I did work on it some after it was scanned but no one would notice but me.)  The shoulder pain has been so severe that I just picked up my paintbrushes last week for the first time since finishing this painting (which took six months to complete). And just some off-the-cuff advice to other painters:  keep in mind when taking on a large painting the cost of framing (which is substantial) and the cost of shipping (which is prohibitive).   

So, you can imagine the absolute feeling of delight and justification I felt when I received this information today.  I feel the narrative is revealing and authentic which was my goal, although the final wrap-up sentence was left off for length. I guess you'll just have to wonder.  Also, there is an easter egg visible in this painting for my philosophy friends.  If we meet and your personality suits, I'll gift you that info.  I won't share that here because once you know you can never unsee it.  Enjoy!  Back to my brushes.  

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"Make the most of yourself...for that is all there is of you."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson