Light and Texture

Today I was reading to my art therapy client from the book Incredible Light and Texture in Watercolor by James Toogood.

The paintings in the book are exquisite. He provides step-by-step demonstrations to teach the basic watercolor techniques depicting light and texture. I was very impressed with how thorough he covered each subject. It is what most people ask for when learning watercolors.

James believes that talent is overrated. "Determination and persistence are more important. If you have a passion for painting, the skills can be acquired."

He feels that painting is a powerful and unique language that reaches out across borders and communicates to virtually anyone, anywhere. I know this for a fact through my involvement in the field of art therapy.

His book is rightfully named as James paints incredible light and texture into his watercolor paintings. Look how he captures the water.........


Coastline
James Toogood

Part 5: Watercolor VS Abstract Expressionism

During the 1940's, artistic experimentation became a major focus in the New York art scene resulting in the development of Abstract Expressionism.

Watercolor began to lose a certain amount of its popularity. It was not a medium which played a role in the evolution of the new movement in abstraction. Watercolors were small and intimate in scale and were subordinate to the huge canvases of the Abstract Expressionists.

However, one such artist, Mark Rothko (1903-1970) utilized large areas of transparent washes and color staining on his canvases to create large scale works which were atmospheric, contemplative and reminiscent of the watercolor tradition.

Later, a second generation of Abstract Expressionist including Sam Francis (1923-1994) and Paul Jenkins (b. 1923) also employed similar wash methods to produce transparent color fields on large canvases. By incorporating watercolor techniques into canvas painting, American artists not only re-popularized the medium but continued a long tradition of innovative experimentation.


Blue Orange Red
Mark Rothko
Oil on canvas
1961


Untitled
Sam Francis
Acrylic on paper
1989


Phenomena Lasting Dawn
Paul Jenkins
Acrylic on canvas
1977