Friday, March 19, 2010

Cabo Verde Woman

Cabo Verde Woman, watercolor, 7x5" (17x12 cm.)
Our cruise left the coast of Senegal for the islands of Cabo Verde, a few hundred miles away. These islands were owned by the Portuguese, several African languages are also spoken. People sell vegetables, fish, and other products sitting on the sidewalk. People were friendly, and Mindelo, the capital, was clean.
The other day I was reading "A Painterly Approach", by Mary Beth McKenzie. "Painterly" usually means "in a loose manner", but she means to approach painting in a broader, more abstract way, and dealing with the entire canvas. She suggests we make the form happen with color as opposed to line, whether we are working in oil, pastel, or watercolor. She also suggests that much can be learned by looking and studying paintings by masters we admire. But she also recommends that although we never stop learning, there is a point when formal study should end and we must explore our own thoughts, develop our own ideas and sense of style.

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