Fresh Decaf

A very exciting thing has happened! This painting has been awarded "Editor's Choice" in the most recent Creativity Workshop sponsored by Watercolor Artist Magazine! You can click here to get to the link on their web site which shows the painting and describes the award and my painting process.

In the meantime, here is what I wrote about this painting, when I submitted it to their competition, which was all about using negative painting in watercolor:

This watercolor relied heavily on negative painting. I started with a wet-in-wet underpainting, using the three primary colors, to tone the paper and introduce color where I knew I would be wanting it. Then I painted around the shapes in the coffee machine, carafes, cups, sweetener, and window panes. Within those shapes I painted around highlights, reflections, and smaller descriptive and abstract shapes, to add interest, depth, complexity, and color. Towards the end of the painting I glazed on a few shadows and the orange accents in a positive manner. But, for most of the painting, I was adding glazes negatively and watching the positive shapes emerge!

By the way, I thought it was a fascinating challenge to create a painting based on a subject, which most people might not think twice about. We've all seen coffee machines like this, and we pour our coffee without giving them a second glance. I am hoping that my painting will grab my viewer's attention and command a second glance - and the appreciation of how an ordinary, everyday object can truly become an interesting and compelling piece of art!

Fresh Decaf

watercolor, 33x27 framed

Private collection

Please visit my web site to see lots more paintings:

http://www.alexislavineartist.com