Som
e times the best thing we can learn in a class is that we never want to EVER do that (fill in the blank) again! That is me and watercolor.
For years I have admired and purchased watercolor art. And I longed to take a watercolor class myself although now I am not sure what the longing was about! This spring I took a short course on-board a cruise ship. I thought maybe it was the instructor as it just did not ring my bell! So I decided to dabble more and take an online sketching/watercolor class from Jane LaFazio who is an outstanding water-colorist and colleague. Her work is gorgeous! She truly has the gift!
My brain however does not do depth perception. My husband has tried valiantly over the years to convince me to see it as if I am just stubbornly refusing to ignore it!!! I can see it; I just cannot replicate it. As much as I try to stretch myself by dabbling in other media, it is just not happening. The only stretch is a growing dislike of painting in watercolor! It is so contrary to the feeling of play and passion I get when painting cloth or designing textile art.
Since I have a few laid back weeks ahead of me I may dabble more…who knows! I have given myself permission though to move on if it continues to create such internal tension. Meanwhile hubby asked today if we could frame this first effort and hang it somewhere? LOL. How about the garage?!!!
We can’t like everything! Know your strengths….. I’ve painted in oils and loved it, but never even had the desire to do watercolors. I think I’d feel the same as you do.
I’ve also been drawn to learning watercolors and took a couple classes eons ago. I just can’t do it, I’m not a painter in the representational sense. For me the issue is about representing something that exists vs abstraction. I’d rather use a digital camera and Photoshop to replicate what I see than try to paint it anymore.
I took one of Jane’s classes too. It would take so much of my limited time to become proficient in painting with watercolors that I think I’ll just add it to one of the things that I appreciate more after having attempted it. Like printmaking with “real” ink. I will save watercolor for painting with the grandkids. And this is nothing against Jane. Her class was fun. But what would I rather spend my time doing? Playing with computers and fabric! It’s easier to correct the “mistakes.”