A few weeks ago, before any of us had heard the term “social distancing”, I spent a couple days visiting my sister in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Just like Bogie and Bacall we did it all — Friday fish fry at Rocky’s, hanging with her daughter Emily and granddaughter Leah, and pizza from the King. I snapped a few photos while in town as well, which produced an unplanned, but positive outcome — motivation to paint my first watercolor in over a year.
In 2018, I developed somewhat of an obsession with Edward Hopper, the great 20th century American painter. I loved his use of light and shadow and the film noir aspect of his work. My first use of watercolor was a simple sea and sky backdrop to a Hopper-inspired diorama … along the lines of Rooms by the Sea or Morning Sun.
Hopper-inspired diorama with watercolor sea and sky. March, 2018.
Foam-core walls for diorama, watercolor backdrop & light test
I went on to paint several more watercolors in 2018, with my appreciation for the craft ever-increasing. Note that I say appreciation, not skill. I suspect Hopper didn’t fret over the quality of his brush strokes — so neither did I.
For whatever reason, I painted my last watercolor in December 2018 and never once touched a brush in 2019.
Slow Service. December 2018.
Fast forward to February, 2020.
Energized by family time and the late winter sun, I opened my paint kit once again and cautiously began Home on 21st. The photos below were taken at various stages of the painting, including the original reference photo.
The painting should be just now arriving at my sister Jill’s home in the mail. I hope she likes it.
