Fresh Air

Here is a recent large scale landscape watercolor called "Space and Grace". 

This is a favorite view from a place called Cove Meadow, which is 

owned and lovingly maintained by my friend Lindsay. The path through

 the trees was created by Lindsay. The title of the watercolor, "Space and Grace",

 says it all. In this case a picture is worth a thousand words... Enjoy!

                                
                              

   "Space and Grace", Watercolor, 35"x60", Marjorie Glick, 2010

Watercolor Progression: May

I have been deep in concentration- so much so, that I've been lax in posting my progress. I'm often seduced by a compelling image at the outset so I don't really think about the detail and the time it takes to render those details to create a vivid and very real image. This part of the painting contains a lot of improvisation. To create a sense of depth, I'm  rendering  the space one sees through the trees: something that exists mostly in my memory and not in the reference photo. To get a better sense of the detail,  be sure to click on the above photo see a larger image. 

My paintings always have a great deal of depth. The composition extends to inside the painting as opposed to just a 2d surface. I love the perspective in this piece with the path and rock face converging to a point in the center of the painting which takes you deep into the forest and up into the tree tops. The white space that remains is key to this illusion and will be done all by memory and my experience of being in this forest. It is the key component to the image. In the reference photo, there is just a huge incoherent tangle of branches. Since I walked the trail, I remember  what  lies behind this tangle of fallen branches. 

 Here is a detail, only a first layer. Once the painting has all its first layers in, I begin to heighten the colors, the details, and the illusion of depth. This watercolor is about my experience of being in the forest. It is a beautiful morning, with splendid dappled light. Being in this forest in this light, gave me a tremendous sense of well being. I was here 25 years ago but I still remember it quite vividly.  I'd be curious to see if its changed. Most natural places are not the same. I've wanted to paint this for a long time and the colors have stayed vivid in my mind for all this time. At the time, I made a note to remember: Rocks: dappled light; pale creamy yellow, peach, lavender, turquoise and purple, Moss: an amazing emerald green. jewel tones. 

Watercolor Progression Thus Far:

 For your viewing ease, I've pasted the entire watercolor progression post with new images added here:

Here is the photo(above) I'm working from for my newest watercolor (40"x60") with a working title of "Forest". You can click on any of the photos to view them at a larger size. It will take me several months to complete this and in the beginning of a large painting with this kind of detail, I feel a bit daunted but also excited because I know at some point in the process, the painting will take on a life of its own. I have an idea of how I want it to look and feel, but in the end, it will be something entirely different, beyond what I can imagine now. Please check back every few weeks for updates to this post. It's a rare glimpse inside my process. Sharing my process is an experiment for me, it is my intention to make more tangible, to you the viewer, what goes into the making of my watercolors.

The next two photos show details of the bottom left and right of the watercolor

 I'm painting this watercolor in sections rather than big washes because I want to capture the detail and textures of the rich forest floor, mosses and rocks.

Watercolor Progression Continued

I have added new images to my watercolor progression post. To see them, go to the February 2011 post titled Watercolor Progression and scroll to the bottom. Here (in this post) are but a few of many sketches I have made for this painting. I'm in the thick of it now: I have to make many color decisions before I can move on. If I don't, I will lose the clarity. I like watercolor most when it is clean and not muddy. Today was a thinking and sketching day. There is the image in my memory, which has to be reconciled with the reference photos and what the painting needs.... To this end, in contrast to the slow pace of the large watercolor, these sketches are fast and intuitive.

Pardon the messy studio- no cleaning gets done when I'm this far into a painting!

New images added to "Watercolor Progression"

I have added some new images of my forest painting in progress. You'll find the complete watercolor progression series (up till now) in my February posts. To see them, you need to click on "read more" at the bottom of the post.

Watercolor Workshop on Orrs Island, Maine

Please contact me if you'd like to register and I'll send you a registration form

Space is limited and registration is on a first come first served basis

Registration deadline, May 1st 

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP ON ORRS ISLAND, MAINE

MONDAY, JULY 4th (4PM) to THURSDAY, JULY 7th (4PM)

With

MARJORIE GLICK

www.marjorieglick.com

Enjoy a watercolor workshop in a relaxing setting at the old family summer home of Margaret Arndt, known as Crow’s Nest. Crow’s Nest is nestled on top of a hill overlooking Harpswell Sound, with spectacular views from the large porch of sunset and water. Orrs Island is a wonderful place to paint because of its varied scenery of quiet coves, rugged coastline, and quintessential New England buildings. 

The workshop fee is $500 and includes watercolor instruction, lodging at Crow’s Nest (additional charge for private room), 3 breakfasts, 3 buffet style picnic lunches, and one lobster dinner. Two dinners will be on your own at one of the nearby restaurants, (unless you would like an a la carte home-cooked dinner option). The workshop will begin each day at 9am and conclude at 4pm. Each morning begins with a demonstration that addresses the specifics of the landscape at hand with regards to color, composition, and paint handling. The afternoons will be spent painting on your own with plenty of individual guidance from Marjorie and will conclude with a critique as needed. At the conclusion of each day, you’ll have free time and the opportunity to relax on the porch, and if the spirit moves you, paint the sunset! 

Registration deadline is by MAY 1st and is on a first come first served basis.

Flowers in anticipation of Spring

While we wait for spring, which will be here eventually, Here are a selection of my earlier watercolors which take flowers as their subject:

Binnie's Porch, Watercolor, 40"x60", 1998

Foxglove Rainbow, Marjorie Glick , 30"x22"

Delphinium, Marjorie Glick, 22"x18"

Sunlit Rose, Marjorie Glick 30"x40"