Trying something new in art stimulates your creative juices, challenges self doubt and hesitation, and pushes you past habits that represent safety but not your best artistic potential.
That is what happens when you take a watercolor workshop from a master or from any accomplished artist that you want to observe and learn their way of creating watercolors.
Charles Reid is known for his bright use of color and unique drawing style. He admits readily that his quirky drawing is because "I can't draw". He draws what he sees making pivotal dots as he moves his pencil in a different direction, similar to contour drawing but more angular in style.
One of the most important watercolor skills I retained from his demonstrations was his emphasis on the connection of colors within the painting. Each yellow flower, for example, should connect with another yellow. He does not identify a center of interest, but considers these color connections as a pathway through the painting, leading the eye. He also paints straight from the pallette, using generous amounts of water to spread the pigment on paper, creating brilliant colors.
Each of the paintings above, were my practice using his techniques. Unusual subjects for me and fun experiments into a different way of painting!
Vickie Henderson, Charles Reid and Kay Alexander at Cheap Joes in Boone, NC, 2017.
See also:
Art Workshop with Brenda Swenson
