“Sur le vif” – recent works on paper…..

by David Kearnin Paintingon Posted on

 

This little plein air watercolour is almost abstract and that's what I like. Maybe it will be the basis for a 2013 painting!

Perhaps it’s just a phase, but I’ve been working mostly on paper recently. During term time, teaching keeps me hopping and it’s easier to spend an hour on a study than winding up to work on larger projects.

With studies, I’m never too sure whether the work is finished or not: I keep going back to them, and, as often as not, end up pleased with the results. In itself, that’s a measure of completeness. Unless there is an imperative, things are best left alone or they lose their fresh, on the spot feel, that “sur le vif” quality.

With this life study I started with a loose wash, drawing and painting into the still damp paper.
This image has "devolved" from a more formal painting I did a couple of years ago. It's acrylic on paper and I've been enjoying working with this medium recently.

This is a demonstration watercolour that I thought about continuing on with, but I like just it the way it is!

4 Comments

  1. Michelle Casey
    December 11, 2012 @ 6:31 pm

    David, I love your watercolour studies. The floral abstract is amazing… the very last one reminds me of aboriginal actor Graham Greene… thanks for sharing! Michelle

  2. Judy Wilkinson
    December 12, 2012 @ 2:40 pm

    David, just love your work in all its fluency. Happy holidays! Judy