Watercolour on paper, collage
Two sided
Measures 49.25” x 46.5”
Artist Statement
Folded Pieces: An Explanation of the Characteristics of this Series
Watercolour is a medium that involves pigment in close interaction with the paper to which it is applied. Transparent layers of paint are illuminated by light reflected off the surface of the substrate. This produces the medium’s characteristic vibrancy. However, there are other qualities of the paper and pigment dynamic that can be utilized. If we move away from the idea of the paper as a pristine, flat support, we are free to manipulate it by folding, tearing, dissolving and crumpling. Pigment is thus able to invade the disturbed surface producing different effects, one of which looks similar to the crazing found in ceramics. Another technique involves soaking the paper in water to reduce sizing. This creates areas of the surface that react to paint in slightly different ways. The idiosyncratic look of my work is a result of these techniques.