Part of what drives me as an artist is the challenges I set up for myself. In this next painting of the Orr Cove Clam Diggers, I've cut out the horizon again, but the greater portion of this vertical composition showcases the brilliant, sparkling sea. The clam diggers will be almost an afterthought - part of the landscape, among the glittering wet sand and tidal pools.
You can see here that I have already begun to create and compare two different techniques in an attempt to recreate the brilliant sparkle of the sea. Although I know this is hard to judge if the contrasting land isn't painted in to give the full range of values, I have stopped the painting process in order to consider if they are accurately depicting the "feel" of being surrounded by beautiful light. I am likely going back to the drawing board for a third try.
This is the challenge of watercolor. It is unforgiving, soaking its pigment into the paper immediately and refusing be painted over or erased. One has to know the steps beforehand and then proceed with confidence and speed, swiftly laying down washes of pre-mixed colors and judging the dampness of the paper while knowing when to allow the colors to bleed and when to hesitate. I often describe this creative process like riding a bike down a treacherous mountain - the speed won't allow you to stop, and you must stay alert to quickly maneuver, feeling exhilarated while at the same time completely uncertain of what's next and scared you are going to fall.
And while that analogy may seem a bit dramatic to some, think about how the majority of adults resist even attempting something as simple as a sketch. How many people do you know state that they "can't draw a stick figure" and won't even attempt it? I notice that mentality starts around middle school and I teach my students that the creative process is daunting only if you keep your focus on the product you are producing instead of losing yourself in experience of the process. So what if you make a mistake and it doesn't turn out well? It's only paper and paint and you can continue the process with another attempt. Taking the end result out of the equation is the best way to stimulate creativity and imagination while breaking out of convergent thinking. Excepting and expecting "failure" as a vital, essential part of the process is the key to growth in any area; and many times, it redefines our attitudes about perfection, leading us ultimately to an end result we are more connected with and quite different from the one we first sought after.
