This yr is the a centesimal yr for the venerable outdated CSPWC, which is sort of an enormous deal. I used to be excited to use for the 2025 member’s exhibition, however, sadly, I’ve been soundly rejected!
Naturally that’s not my favourite consequence, however – I’m not too upset both.
I’ve utilized 13 occasions and been accepted 9, in order that’s a stable B+ , which is best than I ever did in class.
And! There was a complication this yr.
They introduced they’d maintain simply TWO areas, particularly reserved for oversize work. Which, on this case might be as much as 72″ within the longest dimension. Now this can be a exceptional alternative for a watercolor society present. Remarkable actually. Sometimes the biggest accepted work is full-sheet, 22×30″, which I think about is due to obtainable wall area. Nevertheless the CSPWC has a everlasting nationwide gallery which is considerably bigger than the rotating venues for many society reveals.
And so – despite the fact that it meant I might be competing for one in all ONLY two potential areas, I’ve been wanting to do that for some time, in order that’s what I did.
If I used to be going to be rejected, I’d be rejected gloriously!
I settled on a diptych of full-sheets, so two panels, totaling 44×30″. Which is kind of a bit shy of 72″ – however is twice as massive as the biggest factor I’ve beforehand painted.
(Additionally, should you have been to be accepted, it’s important to body and ship this stuff. So to be trustworthy, that is extra manageable.)
To assist with going larger, I switched from a conventional watercolorist’s folding palette, in favor of utilizing Chinese language dipping-sauce dishes 🙂 This allows you to have extra coloration (larger puddles), introduced proper to the spot the place you’re working. Very useful for pouring! Plus, I used some hand-mixed pigments for even bigger batches of coloration. Primarily making my very own big 3.5″ pans of watercolor. (One thing I examined out through the 2023 30×30 marathon. It’s fairly a financial savings over tube-color should you’re prepared to go to the difficulty).
The portray is one other of my primitive jungle fantasies; art-historically associated to Rousseau and (rather more problematically), Gauguin. (I’m not a fan of his life, however his work stay cultural artifacts).
I’ve been doing works with this motif on and off, (right here’s one from 2021), which aren’t simply fan artwork, however quite, a part of a private narrative to do with an imaginary return to a primitive tradition.
I’ve what I really feel is an affordable quantity of hysteria concerning the finish of civilization. Local weather change, consumption fueled air pollution, world warfare and genocide, the autumn of democracy – a lot of causes to be involved. And so, on occasion, I make a picture with a optimistic spin on the concept of returning to the stone age.
I really feel I’m doing a contemporary model of Rousseau; his imaginary goddesses in his imaginary jungles.
As a result of hey, In the event you can’t create a mythic-fantasy as art-therapy – effectively, what’s the level of being an artist?
So, there you’ve gotten it. The perfect cause to color; realizing you’ll most likely be rejected, however you do it anyway 🙂
“Après nous,” she mentioned, setting down her glass, “le déluge.”
2025, 44×30″, diptych, watercolor on cotton rag.