Abstract Portraits
Three new abstract portraits in watercolor and ink. Trying to get more loose and expressive.
Three new abstract portraits in watercolor and ink. Trying to get more loose and expressive.
I actually don’t sketch or draw much; it’s not my thing. But drawing seems natural when I am traveling. I travel with a few ink pens, often brown instead of black, and a tiny set of watercolors that fit into a recycled Altoid tin. These were done on my last trip to Europe, I think mostly in France and Spain, but most were inspired by two art exhibits I saw in Haarlem, the Netherlands. The Frans Hall Museum was full of his work and work inspired by him and neck fluffs, or giant clown like collars were everywhere. The other exhibit that really influenced these sketches were Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘grotesque’ sketches, that were featured in a Da Vinci show at the Teyler’s Museum. I loved his character sketches featuring exaggerated features like large noses, lopsidedness, and what some would consider rather ugly distorted faces. I could relate.
I have been painting some rather peaceful landscapes lately. Most in monochromatic shades, probably inspired by how much time I have spent outside this summer, either at the shore or visiting the desert, or even just driving through the local hills. Also teaching a watercolor class this fall has required me to focus less on my acrylic and oils and play more with the the watercolors. Some of my favorite are on sale on my Etsy page. www.etsy.com/shop/katinkabelleart
I occasionally paint small unframed works and sell them at reasonable prices because I like the idea of art being for everyone. It gives me an opportunity to explore a different media for a while or a different subject matter. You may remember my “Little People” paintings, or maybe you have a few of my “Still Life with Tangerines”, or some pencil sketches of big eyed girls that I have returned to over the years. Sometimes I explore something completely new, this is both fun, and often a learning experience. Landscapes and still lifes are not “my thing”, yet I have somehow painted dozens, scores, who knows, maybe hundreds, over the decades. People always say they can tell what is my work, and it doesn’t matter if its acrylic, mixed media, oil, watercolor, my signature portraits or a stormy sky, or a bowl of jalapeños, or a single giant nose. Maybe it’s obvious its my art because there isn’t one defining thing about my style, except that it is usually colorful, not very traditional and a bit of fun, and sometimes people don’t know what to make of it. Kinda, just like me.
These recent works are all watercolor on paper. Most have a unwinged figure flying through the sky, or walking through a desert, another signature in many of my landscapes the last few years. They are all small 6×9 at the largest. I will be putting them on my etsy page over the next few days and you can find them there, each under $45.
I finished this painting last week in Arizona, while hanging out with my evil twin Haley. At first they seemed rather naked so I put them in a bubble bath to remove any questions. We girls do love getting into a little hot water, especially if bubbles are involved. The colors are inspired by cotton candy, because what is more fun than that? Double Trouble is watercolor on Aquaboard and 18″x24″. Double Trouble is $260 unframed and $300 framed.
I have several sale paintings listed on Etsy for only $25 each.
Join me Sunday morning in Old Town Temecula. I will be selling my art and donating a nightstand for the auction.
Written
on January 3, 2014