Back To Cleaning Up

I know you all will think me awful, but I still haven't got my studio in order.  I'm still in the process of painting the desk extension thingy that my paper cabinet will sit on and I still haven't emptied the old computer desk and found places for all of its content.  I'm thinking I may go to work on the huge closet adjoining my studio and move it in there.  It's a very nice desk but it's in an oak finish and I'd like to keep everything white in the studio proper.  I could use the top for cutting mats and use the drawers for storage.  Sounds like a good plan to me as the closet is currently being used to store frames.

I forgot to mention that I've renewed my organizational effort because Dors from Dors Art Blog will be visiting us during her US tour this coming August and I figure with all my procrastination, it will take me that long to get everything done!  I have no idea how long it would take if she weren't going to visit but my husband keeps saying "Thank you, Dors!" over and over in a very heartfelt manner!

So, why isn't it already done by now?  Well, I keep finding unfinished paintings and end up going back to work on them (like the egret above!)

I started it ages ago when I first got some of the Golden Open Acrylics but I put it aside to dry then moved on to something else before I finished it!  Now I'm determined to finish it and get it out of the way AND get the studio in tip top shape ASAP!  (Hey!  I heard that snigger in the background!)

And Back To Watercolor

I belong to a group called "Paint My Photo" and Rich, one of the members, posted a photo of a Chickadee that I couldn't resist attempting to paint. 

Of course, after being away from watercolors for ages, I would decide to paint it on watercolor canvas (in a pad from Fredrix)!  The canvas buckled as badly as unstretched watercolor paper and it was difficult to paint on it.

However, paint lifts wonderfully from the canvas so any mistakes wipe right off and can be re-painted.  The canvas also makes for great texture so I guess the good and bad of it are about equal.  It would just depend on how you paint as to whether you would enjoy this support or not. 

I'll know to stretch it and tape it down if I ever use the canvas again and I don't think I'd use it for transparent watercolor in the tubes/pans.  I've used it before with watercolor "crayons" and that worked fairly well.  And I think gouache might work with it ok. 

I've had this pad of canvas for years though and it may be a long time before I use it again.  The idea of a canvas that will accept watercolor is a good one but, for me at least, the reality doesn't work as well as the idea.