"Cezanne's Muse
42" x 24"
A year ago I bought a roll of 140# Arches watercolor paper, which measures 44-1/2" high x 30' long. Of course, then I had to buy a large piece of Gator Board to use as a backing while I paint, still, it's well worth the investment, as now I can create paintings at any size I'd like.
"Cezanne's Muse" just won First Place in Watercolor at the Roanoke League of Artists Show and is my first attempt at working larger than full sheet.
I saturated both sides of the paper with clear water and while it was still wet, I quickly painted in the background foliage so that the colors mingled and dripped. The statue was laid in with broad washes and then slowly fine-tuned. It's always a challenge to keep things loose and fresh!
Why "Cezanne's Muse"? I visited Cezanne's family home in Aix en Provence, France. On the grounds were two statues among a tangle of vines. Weather-worn, they had obviously been there for a long time, and I imagine looked upon Cezanne as he painted. This statue has such a pensive and compassionate expression, I pictured her as a source of inspiration for the artist.
