
Spring has definitely arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Trees, bulbs, and other flowers are blooming everywhere. Just as nature does, in winter I retreat and dream up projects for the year and the future – a reflective time for new ideas to emerge. But, enough hibernating… It is spring! The days lengthen, color pops up all over town and I am back in the studio.
I spent part of my winter in Toulouse and visited my artistic mentor and friend Mireille. She runs a teaching studio “Le Jardin des Arts” in the “pink city”, my hometown in France. Her studio is a quiet space that invites to appreciating each passing season as you draw and paint - a roaring fire crackles during dark, winter days and a beautiful yard bursts with bird songs the rest of the year. With her warm, southern accent Mireille gently guides budding and confirmed artists of all ages through precious moments of artistic “partage”. I love to spend time at her studio and immerse myself in the atmosphere that she creates around those gathered to paint. During my visit last month, I painted with inks and watercolors using large, wide gestures - a messy and playful approach. Quite a departure from my scientific illustration style and its focus on rendering details with accuracy!
The process was so liberating and energizing that I am currently experimenting with gestures techniques and new materials in my own studio. It is exciting to embark on an unfamiliar path! Using larger size paper and mixing watercolor, traditional China ink, and botanical or mineral dye inks I enjoy the uncontrolled direction that my painting is taking. I let these watery media with a mind of their own lead my inspiration, my eye, and my hand. And they surprise me every time.
Stay tuned for new artwork in the coming weeks!
I spent part of my winter in Toulouse and visited my artistic mentor and friend Mireille. She runs a teaching studio “Le Jardin des Arts” in the “pink city”, my hometown in France. Her studio is a quiet space that invites to appreciating each passing season as you draw and paint - a roaring fire crackles during dark, winter days and a beautiful yard bursts with bird songs the rest of the year. With her warm, southern accent Mireille gently guides budding and confirmed artists of all ages through precious moments of artistic “partage”. I love to spend time at her studio and immerse myself in the atmosphere that she creates around those gathered to paint. During my visit last month, I painted with inks and watercolors using large, wide gestures - a messy and playful approach. Quite a departure from my scientific illustration style and its focus on rendering details with accuracy!
The process was so liberating and energizing that I am currently experimenting with gestures techniques and new materials in my own studio. It is exciting to embark on an unfamiliar path! Using larger size paper and mixing watercolor, traditional China ink, and botanical or mineral dye inks I enjoy the uncontrolled direction that my painting is taking. I let these watery media with a mind of their own lead my inspiration, my eye, and my hand. And they surprise me every time.
Stay tuned for new artwork in the coming weeks!