Beginning and Intermediate Watercolor Homework 2/20/19 Edge Quality

Here is a very fluid watercolor by Paul Jenkins:

I think we can say that once he applies the paint Jenkins does not appear to limit its movement. He seems to want to follow rather than direct the flow of the richly saturated colors. It may be that he has in fact rotated the paper or tilted the backing board to encourage mixing or feathering, but the feeling that comes through is spontaneous and receptive, as if the artist's job is just to make sure the pitchers are full before the pouring begins.


Here is another watercolor, painted 40 years earlier by Georgia O'Keefe:

There are definite similarities and differences between the two paintings. Both artists delight in the fluidity and transparency of saturated paint, and though O'Keefe exerts more obvious control over where and how far it travels across the page, neither artist appears to make corrections. Jenkins wants his colors to interact, while O'Keefe keeps hers separated by barriers of dry paper, but both artists leave the paint alone once it has been applied to the paper.

                                             Pickpockets                          Tom Hoffmann

For homework, invent shapes and colors to give form to your feelings. Exaggerate, investigate, But above all, respect the medium. Give the paint room to do what it will, and allow that it may do some things better than you can.