In January I noted the resolution to paint more everyday moments, but in February I mostly dropped it. It was a long, cold, dark month (doesn’t February always seem long, even if it’s technically the shortest month?) I was finding very little inspiration in the gray outdoors, and anyway it in the polar vortex it was too cold to paint outside. Instead, I found joy in using watercolor for escapism – painting things and places outside of my day-to-day life. As much as I enjoy using watercolor for mindfulness and appreciating my current surroundings, I also think that escapism is a legitimate use!
Everyday Moments
An early “everyday moment” before I lost interest.
This is an everyday moment from last year, but mainly I did it for an upcoming Making Color Sing project.
A gloomy day at Boston Nature Center, Mattapan, as sketched in a Moleskin Watercolor Album, with really too much water for the paper.
Escapism
Escapism! What if summer?
Also escapism, and curiosity; had to respond to the tutorial’s clickbait title, “This Watercolor Secret Shocked Everyone” (it didn’t, it’s tape).
Semi-escapism. This is a real scene inspired by a recent visit to Danehy Park, where I’ve painted so often before. The escapist part is that it’s really too early in the year for the willow’s boughs to be so full and golden, but I imagined it more springlike. At the same time, I also wanted to paint snow since there’s been so much of it this year.
That’s it! A pretty light month in terms of finished paintings. Despite it seeming long, I do have to remember that February is pretty short; I also spent a lot of it watching Blood on the Clocktower livestreams and eating potato chips, which is also important.