A N E M O N E S 2023

Following a visit to the Toronto Aquarium, I developed a painting fever for the Anemones. The colours!

Working quickly on a 22 x 30 lb sheet of cold pressed paper, I dove into the dark shapes with my first pass of indigo pigment (loaded on the brush), on some clean water blotches. I left “white shape’ of the ‘aquarium top’, to add, last, as the source of moving water and light. I threw down more blotches of opera pink and new gamboge yellow, both transparent, and a good start to suggesting the Anemones’ pattern.

While still wet, I pulled at the indigo pigment to negatively paint the anemone spines, and other simple details. I used my favourite no. 2 brush, and put it down when I was “50% done”. I added opaque, cobalt blue to the remaining wet areas, trying for the feeling of ‘body’ through colour “relativity” in the deeper water. (I knew that I would not be able to show “movement of the anemones”, in this super quick workout).

Finally, about 2 hours later, I hauled out my flat, square brush, and dragged some damp horizontal lines, to suggest the paths of light, and dark, downwards, over the paint markings. . . and I was done. I like this abstract piece. My next painting attempt will be slower, and I will work out the botanica of the Anemone flowers.

Enjoy, BLBC.