Study Values, Choosing Wisely and Being Present

The view from my hotel window in Assisi was so wonderful. This image is cropped so that I could see more of the texture in this watercolour, mono-print. If any of my artist friends want to "play" then here are the steps to creating mono-prints:

• Begin by purchasing several pieces of CLEAR (not frosted) plexi-glass plastic.
• Bevel (you can purchase a bevel for under $20-) or you can sand the edges of the plexi-glass, doing this, gives an interest to the border of your finished art work. (Optional)
• Wash the plexi-glass and gently polish with comet cleanser. Rinse well.
• Coat the entire surface with a diluted gum arabic solution. 60 water, 40 gum arabic. Let plexi dry overnight.
• Place plexiglass over a sketch, a finished pece of art or a photograph.
• Now you will see through the plexi-glass at your image. 
• As you paint directly onto the plastic surface, add small amounts of gum arabic to your water based paint as this will give the colour more texture and retard drying time.
• When finished, place a piece of hot press paper or special print paper over the piece of plastic, plexiglass.
• Burnish the entire surface (I use a wooden spoon)
• Peel off the paper.
• Enjoy your beautiful, watercolour mono-print!

When I did this watercolour of a vase of flowers, I focused on keeping the colours of each rectangle, the same value. I appreciate the movement in this composition.