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| My reference photo |
I finished this newest scratchboard painting a few weeks ago but I’ve been too busy to blog about it until now. This wild Lady’s Slipper blossom, which I photographed in my forest late last April, was my chosen subject as a deadline neared; I had to deliver 8 original paintings for a solo show of my work as 2019 Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Artist of the Year. Generally, I don’t cram at the last minute, but I thought this painting would appeal to the show’s audience, so I was hoping to include it in the exhibition.
I’ve started to select my painting surface according to the subject and I knew that white-surfaced Aquabord® would be ideal in this case. A small painting generally takes less time than a large one, so for this I used a 9″ x 12″ panel.
As shown in my reference photo below, I captured the flower with backlighting. This made the pink pouch look nearly transparent and revealed the very fine white hairs all over the plant when viewed closely. I also cropped the image tightly, focusing all the attention on the flower. In such a small format, this seemed to work best. The white surface of the scratchboard makes transparent watercolors very vibrant, and I preserved the whites as I painted the background as I would on watercolor paper. For paints, I used Golden QoR® watercolors.
The clay surface allows easy blending and softening of edges, since dried pigment can be easily lifted away when re-wet. These properties helped me to create the out-of-focus background with the appearance of sunlight filtering through the green leaves, as well as the closer leaves and twigs on the forest floor. I purposely kept the background colors cool and neutral so the plant would be the star attraction.
I never realized how many hues were in the Lady’s Slipper blossom and frilly top growth until I analyzed it for this painting. I’m finally mastering how to blend colors without lifting them off the clay surface, using more pigment and less water on my brush. I really enjoyed all these aspects of the scratchboard as a great watercolor painting surface. It is a forgiving surface, especially in comparison to the cotton-rag watercolor papers I like to paint on.
Of course, the frosting on the cake is the ability to “scratch” and my xacto knife was all I needed to add the final touches of hairy fibers to make my Pink Lady come alive. With a final coating of UV archival acrylic spray I framed this watercolor safely with no protective mat and glass. Finished and delivered in time for the solo show*! Below you can get a sneak preview of the exhibit. I am honored and proud to be displayed in such a prestigeous venue.
* My solo show runs through April 26, 2019, in the Arrowmont School’s Wolpert Gallery in Gatlinburg, TN. A public reception will be held on Wednesday, April 24th, from 5-7pm. The 69th Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage takes place April 23-27 2019.
