For Goodness Sake – Why?

Over the last few years, the only artwork I’ve attempted — well, almost — has been watercolor. For the record, I have recently been doing a lot of brush lettering, and one day soon I’ll share a bit of that. I guess in a way, I don’t see “lettering” as “art”.

Watercolor, of course, is definitely an art form, and I know enough about art and watercolor to know that it’s quite challenging. At the same time, in many respects, watercolor is easy. No, “easy” isn’t the right word. The word I’m looking for is “convenient”, and yes, watercolor is a most convenient art medium.

Even while all of my art supplies have been packed away for the last two years, I’ve always kept a set of watercolors on my desk, along with a variety of watercolor brushes. Once in a while, when that “artsy” urge would come over me for one reason or another, it was “easy” — well, “convenient” — to grab a sheet of watercolor paper, a cup of water, a brush, and my paints. I can sit right here at my desk and play with my paints, or I can easily — conveniently — carry the necessary supplies upstairs and paint at the kitchen table.

I did this one day recently — no it’s not supposed to be a picture of anything — and came up with this:

I was very sad when I painted this. We recently lost one of our four precious cats. He went outside to “do his business” and when I opened the door five minutes later to let him back in, he was gone. We’ve contacted every vet in the area, put up posters throughout the neighborhood, and listed him as “missing” with various pet-find services, but he’s still gone. Although we pray that Buddy Boy will someday come home to us, we feel his absence every day. Our hearts are truly broken. So I just sat down with paper and paints and spilled a few colors across the page, along with a few tears.

Since then I’ve made a ridiculous attempt to paint “Morning Mist” in watercolor, and I’m still shaking my head and laughing at how futile that exercise was. I’ve done a few other watercolor landscapes, but nothing to brag about, for sure. I’m not a watercolor artist. I never have been, and I’ve never had any real desires to master watercolor painting.

Yet now, as I’m easing myself back into the studio and getting back into more of a routine of painting, I’ve chosen to start with watercolor. For goodness sake — why?

The answer, of course, is convenience. My watercolors are always close at hand. I have a nice variety of brushes sitting within reach. Water runs from our faucets, and clean-up is quick. So, why not?

I thought of all the “why not” reasons as I watched a video from Matt Fussell’s “Watercolor Workshop”. I’ve been through this online class before, and here I am again, ready to give it another try. And I’m feeling overwhelmed, to be honest.

• Watercolor is challenging
• Watercolor requires an investment in good quality paper
• Watercolors come in so many different forms
• Watercolor brushes come in so many different shapes and sizes
• Watercolor involves so many different techniques

As I go through all of the materials needed and think back to all the frustrations watercolor brings, I do wonder why of all the art media available to me I would choose what is certainly — for me — the most difficult of them all.

Convenience. Yes. Convenience and a sort of much-needed simplicity right now. I’ve done this before, so it’s a familiar pattern. Whenever I’ve been away from art for any reason or length of time, I’ve always found playing with watercolor to be a way to “ease back” into the studio.

Watercolor is great for quick little projects — many of which are not only fun but useful. I’ve made lots of lovely watercolor bookmarks. I’ve used abstract watercolors to make interesting origami boxes. Gift tags are another simple watercolor project, and “watercolor doodles” make cute little gifts.

The point in what I’m doing is not to become a watercolor artist, but to re-accustom myself to coming into the studio and playing every day — or if not every day, at least as often as possible. Medical problems, concerns for aging family members, and other assorted aspects of “getting older” all play a part here. Having fun little projects to do will provide a good break from a lot of the day-to-day stress I’ve been dealing with.

My expectations are low, and that’s how it should be. When I do create something I like, it’s cause for celebration.

I’ll keep using my inexpensive paper and paints, and I’ll work with the brushes I have, even if they’re a bit old. I have watercolors; I have gansai; I have a set of very cheap gouache. I’ve got all I need to have a little fun.

Art should be fun. When I first began learning to draw and paint, every project was an adventure. In time, as I improved, I lost a little of the joy because I was holding myself to a higher standard. But now, I’ve lowered the bar… and what I create doesn’t matter.

All that matters is that I’m going to have fun now. So, expect very little from me, and I guarantee we’ll neither one of us will be disappointed.