Saturday 22 November 2014

Watercolour vignettes



I am fascinated by Turner's watercolour vignettes which you can see and read about here. It is interesting that the vignettes that he did weren't intended as paintings in their own right but as pieces to be translated into print that were subordinate to the text that they accompanied. In my opinion they are all little gems.

It has prompted me to look again at breaking out of the formal constraints of the rectangular or square format of paper and canvas which can lead to something altogether more interesting. This is something I explored briefly some years back but hadn't returned to. Whilst my explorations are no where near as free flowing and randomly shaped as Turner's it might be the start of a journey that develops in that vein. To have the same confidence in guiding the paint rather than controlling it is definitely something that I aspire to.



Vignettes   watercolour  9x9cm   ©2014Lisa Le Quelenec



I have presented these part circular paintings within a square aperture mount which reinforces the formality that I am breaking away from. I like the tension between the formal and the chaotic. Where this will lead I have no idea but it is an interesting idea to experiment with.


4 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

I like all three paintings and how you have framed them. Experimentation like this will lead to some interesting places.

Lorraine Brown said...

Nice concept and suits your own little gems

Debbie Nolan said...

Dear Lisa - I love these formats. Looks like these vignettes are a wonderful experiment. Especially enjoyed the birds in flight. Thanks for sharing. Have a super day.

Lisa Le Quelenec said...

Hi Rhonda, thank you. I think with simple little ideas like these the presentation is as integral to the idea as the painting and sometimes it gets overlooked. I'm thinking through some ideas for these.

Hi Lorraine, thank you. It is an idea that is making me think that's for sure.

Hi Debbie, thank you. The birds have been a theme bubbling away in the background for a while that keep popping up. Glad you like them.