Rochelle, Author at Rochelle Weiner Carr

Yupo, my friend

I am having a love affair with Yupo paper.

This paper is used in commercial printing and is actually a kind of plastic. This means it does not soak up water so a watercolor painting sits on top of the page and dries only when the water evaporates.

I'm working on a few different techniques, but so far I am having luck with a mixture of loads of paint, little water, plastic wrap for texture and sprinkles of sea salt.

The plastic wrap put on wet paint creates some very interesting and unexpected shapes. You can either let it dry (takes ages) and then remove the plastic... or you can remove it while the paint is still wet. The painting showed uses the latter technique. What I like about it is the unexpected swooshes of color mixes that you get by removing the sopping wet plastic wrap. Then while it's still super wet I throw on some salt and let it set for a while. I come back when it's partially dry and work in more wet color and then pick up the sides of the paper and allow it to drip across the page creating rivulets of color.

This one, once it was finished, really reminded me of a growing thing - moss or algae or maybe something seen at a molecular level. I decided to title it "Algae".

I really think this style and techniqe has potential for some amazing large scale paintings... stay tuned!

Pictured above, "Algae".

Fruits of my trespass

Peony in profile

Okay! so I trespassed and I painted and here are the fruits of my activity (illegal?)

Both peony paintings are a combination of collage and watercolor... a technique I learned from Karlyn Holman that I've been having a lot of fun with.

The peonies in real life have such a delicate and lush presence, I was trying to achieve that in my paintings. I think the finished works look a lot more hard-edged than the actual flowers but I like the slight feeling of transparency to the petals and the drama I was able to add with the intensity of color.

The collaged paper I think adds a random quality that really appeals to me - and dirties up the painting a bit too. I don't try to achieve perfection in my paintings . I prefer to be pulled in random directions depending on how the paint is flowing on the sheet. You never know what you're going to get... isn't that exciting?

Inspiration / Paintings / Watercolor - 05/30/2011

Ok, I trespassed

Love this image - painting to follow soon!

I admit it. I trespassed into my neighbors yard today. I seriously couldn't help myself.

Everyday, I sit in my office working at my computer, and my view out the window is of the homes across the street. Lately, I've been distracted by the most amazing peony bush that seems to have sprouted overnight next to my neighbor's front steps. That bush is literally drooping with these wonderful, heavy, huge pink blooms. I had to run across the street, camera in hand, hoping not to get caught out.

I have always enjoyed taking photos, particularly since digital cameras came on the scene. I love that I can capture images and see the result immediately (yes, I do struggle daily with the lure of instant gratification). But this year since I've began painting in earnest, my camera is always in my bag. I love to stop and grab shots whenever I see something that interests me, and then I go home and paint it. I think nothing of stopping the car on the highway to snap that perfect shot of a sunset or a beautiful view, and yes trespassing into a yard to get a close up of a beautiful garden. This morning, that inspiration presented itself in my neighbor's yard.

So - very sorry neighbor - but it's for a good cause! the cause of art! (See finished paintings here.)

Inspiration / Paintings - 05/27/2011

Now showing at the Andersonville Galleria

I have taken a booth at the Andersonville Galleria in Chicago. My paintings and prints are on display on the 2nd floor. I took some time and painted the booth and created some signage and installed it all a couple weeks ago with the help of my friend Sandy. So exciting!

: Left side of booth

: Right side of booth

Paintings - 05/18/2011

Fun with Yupo paper

Painting with Yupo paper is totally different from painting on watercolor paper. Yupo is a plastic substrate - it's nonabsorbent - so when you put watercolor on it, it does not soak into the paper. You have to wait for the water to evaporate before the painting is dry.

The biggest plus I found so far is that you can keep changing your painting... over and over. Make a mistake and just wipe it right back up. No problem! if it's already dried, wet it a little an then wipe it up! Or dampen a clean brush and pull up small sections or lines of white. Wow!

Also, since the paint sits on top of the paper instead of soaking into it, it gives a totally different feel to your work. I am loving it. Below is a painting I did recently which I'm calling Rainy Day Poppies. I started out with a drawing of the poppies and then did a colorful under painting. Once that was dry I came in and painted the poppies with lots of paint and little water. After that dried, I misted water on the poppies and let them run. I'm totally loving the effect.

One thing to note, since the paint can be reactivated over and over by adding water, it's important to seal your finished paintings. I'm trying out a few different products but probably a clear archival fixative spray will be the best option.

Pictured above, "Rainy Day Poppies", watercolor on Yupo paper.

Paintings / Watercolor / Yupo paper - 05/18/2011

Recent monoprints

I've really been getting into monoprints lately. I learned a fun technique from Karlyn Holman at a class I took in April and have been playing with the concept ever since.

You start with pasting colored tissue on Masa paper, then you do your monoprint on top of that, and after it dries you can go back in... or not... with watercolor.

There's a lot of chance involved in the process because you can't really be sure where the papers will end up or what kinds of smudges you'll get in the print process. But I believe there is a lot of beauty to be found in imperfection.

Above, Blue Spring, is a favorite.

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Inspiration / Monoprints / Paintings / Watercolor - 05/14/2011

My first painting was a face

My mom, also an artist, used to sit my brother and I down with paints and crayons and loads of paper whenever we complained we were bored. According to her the first thing I drew that looked like anything was a face. All these years later I have to say that as an artist I'm still very attracted to the human form. I guess that's why I am doing portraiture now.

"Fertility Goddess" by Rochelle Weiner, 1992

While in art school the human figure was my main focus. I did a whole series on pregnant ladies including a 4 foot tall ceramic sculpture of a native woman, naked with a huge pregnant belly. The belly had a door carved into it with a simple hinge. Open the door and her belly was full of replicas I'd made of ancient fertility goddesses from multiple world cultures. I thought that idea was pretty cool, I only wished my execution would have been as good as my concept. But I guess I still like the piece. To this day mom displays this sculpture in her house, and every child that comes to the house is enthralled by the "lady with babies in her belly".

I took a long hiatus from creating art, intent on building my career in graphic design. I've done that for 20 years now and certainly do enjoy it, but last year decided that something's been missing. So I started painting again. Inspired by a watercolor class I took in June 2010 with Karlyn Holman, I've spent the last year painting. I took another class with Karlyn this spring and learned more techniques. I'm inspired and producing and it's so exciting to be creating again.

I look forward to continuing my painting - and sharing here with whoever stops by. I welcome you to comment on anything - I look forward to hearing from you!

Inspiration / Paintings / Watercolor - 04/26/2011

I have a fan in Arizona!