Joyce Washor

Brooklyn Museum Vase in pastel

2009-07-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn Museum Vase and Orange Slice

2009-06-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

I used my orange/blue watercolor palette substituting French Ultramarine Blue for Cobalt just to see how I liked the colors. I was wondering if FUB would be more transparent than Cobalt. Anyone have any thoughts about that?

Another pastel

2009-06-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Pastel

2009-06-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about doing pastels in my small size for quite awhile but it wasn't until I thought of pastel pencils that I felt I could give it a go. I find them quite enjoyable to do and it being summer I can do them outside on my terrace and be free of the dust!

Color Theory for Complementary Palette

2009-06-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

I have an update for the three complementary palettes that I've been using. They are in my book on pages 27-29 of Big Art, Small Canvas. As some of you may know Daler Rowwney doesn't make Chrome Green anymore. Or rather they have renamed it Yellow-Green. I also substituted a couple of colors since another palette color was close enough. Some colors are not sustitutable but to make purchasing easier I looked for ways to reduce the number of colors needed. Also, using Winsor Violet Dioxazine is much less expensive than Bright Violet by Old Holland.

There is a reason for each color used for each of the three palettes.
There is a true color, a warm version of the true color, a cool version of the true color, a light neutral version of the true color and a dark neutral version of the true color.
I also included a favorite color for a certain reasons (which I will explain in the palette.

In the ORANGE/BLUE palette:
For the oranges: Cadmium Orange is the true color
Chrome Yellow hue is the cool color
Cadmium Red deep hue is the warm color
Naples Yellow is the light neutral
Mars Violet Deep is the dark neutral color
For the blues: Cobalt Blue is the true color
Winsor Blue hue is the cool color
Mauve (blue shade) is the warm color
Violet Grey is the light neutral
Indigo is the dark neutral color
Blue Black is the darkest cool

In the RED/GREEN palette:
For the reds: Cadmium Red Deep Hue is the true color
Permanent Rose is the cool color
Cadmium Orange is the warm color
Indian Red is the light neutral
Purple Madder is the dark neutral color
For the greens: Permanent Green Light is the true color
Winsor Green is the cool color
Sap Green is the warm color
Yellow-Green is the light neutral
Raw Umber is the dark neutral color
Permanent Green Deep is used for making black

In the YELLOW/PURPLE palette:
For the yellows: Chrome Yellow Hue is the true color
Yellow-Green is the cool color
Cadmium Yellow Deep is the warm color
Naples Yellow is the light neutral
Raw Umber is the dark neutral color
For the purples: Bright Violet (or Winsor Violet Dioxazine) is the true color
Ultramarine Violet(or Mauve Blue Shade) is the cool color
Permanent Rose is the warm color
Violet Grey is the light neutral
Mars Violet Deep is the dark neutral color
Purple Madder is a favorite and used as a dark warm
Blue Black is the coolest dark

Bonita Springs demo

2009-06-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the demos from the workshop. Next workshop is in August in a small town near Cincinnati and it's only $75 for two days. Probably near full. Check my website for details!

Cloud Series

2009-05-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

These are watercolors done with more white gouache than I usually use but I went with it. They are 3x4 inches . I worked on them last week in order to meet a deadline for a MTA submission.
Wish me luck! One good thing about deadlines and submissions is that you get some work done!

Bonita Springs Workshop

2009-05-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed my week in Bonita Springs tremendously and was grateful for another opportunity to teach. Everyone was a pleasure to work with and I think we all learned a lot. I've come away from workshops with new friends and I hope it happens again this time!
As you can see the Art League was not only beautiful but well equipted. They even zerox machines to downsize drawings. Feedback was that they learned a lot about color and loosening up (brush strokes) both of which can be applied to any size canvas. I hope I can go back and do it again in 2010 or 2011. Whew! Workshops book so far in advance!
I got to see some of Bonita Springs, especially the beaches which were beautiful. The water was 82 degrees but felt even warmer to me.
One person had to leave early so she wasn't in the group picture. From left to right is Carolyn, Patsy, Laurie, Barbara, Marie, Lydia, Dave, Jan, Julie, myself and Marion.

I came away inspired to try a dry painting technique on a small scale. I'd like to think that I was given this inspiration in return for inspiring students in the workshop. Anyway, it's the best feeling. Can't wait to see what develops.
I have some pastel pencils from my textile design days which I will try first. Any suggestions?

Still Life with Garlic and Antique Cup

2009-05-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

This is the first oil painting I've done since my husband had retired and since we've been back from Asheville, NC. I usually try and determine if my composing has anything to do with what is going on with my personal life. Here I see there are two groups of two. It's the first time I've set objects up with a definite path or space separating items. Could this be my husband and myself before and after (his retirement)?? Also, the two items in the background are opposites; one black one white while the two objects in the foreground are twins. To give you a little background about my husband's retirement: he wants to pursue his passion of photography. So now we are both "doing our thing"!!! Hope I haven't overanalyzed this!
Just a reminder about my workshop in Naples, Florida in a couple of weeks. It's 4 days and starts on May 11th. Please check my website or send me an email for more info.

Storing Paintings

2009-04-29T14:29:00.001-07:00

I was asked how I store my paintings. As you may know since I live in NYC and paint in my bedroom this unit is at the foot of my bed so I couldn't get a better vantage point to shoot the picture. It's a great unit. I store my still life items, fabrics. framed paintings and there are three drawers on the bottom where I numerically keep my paintings!!

How Long Do You Wait Before You Varnish Your Paintings?

2009-04-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

Someone emailed this question and I thought I'd share this answer here:
How big are the paintings or rather I should ask how thick did you apply paint?
I use Winsor Newton paint and usually spray a retouch varnish (Kamar) when paint is dry to the touch which is usually three or four days. The reds usually take longer, but no more than 2 or 3 days.
Conservators would probably tell you to wait 6 months. I guess you can respray after that amount of time.... Maybe I should respray all the ones I still have here? I'm sure a conservator would be better equipped to answer but that's what I do. I can't wait to see the colors come back to their origins.

Grand Canyon after Edgar Payne

2009-03-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Landscapes

2009-03-19T09:37:00.000-07:00

It was great fun to paint over some starts that I had used as steps for my book. (I wasn't good at photographing small wet paintings in progress so I stopped as different stages in the painting process and had them professionally photographed when they dried.) I liked the freedom of having a few paintings going at the same time thinking that at least one of them would be gallery worthy!!

John Carlson influence

2009-03-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

I had done some steps for the oil painting book and then sold the last step. So I had a few starts in different stages of progression. I decided to try and finish the paintings which meant I had to paint over paint. After all these years it was the first time for me. I think it worked out very well. Only difference was that I couldn't scratch my signature onto the board.
I think you'll probably see more posts like this in the near future!

Cezanne influence

2009-03-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

I was at The Guggenheim last week and saw a Cezanne. On the card next to the painting it mentioned that he used white cloths on his tabletops a lot. Well, if he can do it so often so can I. It's funny how we have to feel vindicated somehow before we feel free enough to do it ourselves. I find these little bits of freedoms from museum visiting more valuable than looking at the art.
"Strawberries and Blue Bowl" 3x4 inches watercolor.

Yellow/Purple palette with new Raw Umber

2009-03-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

The yellows are across the top and the purples are down the right side. I eliminated one purple color which is why I pasted a blank piece of paper over it. I placed the Prussian Blue off to the side since its optional and only used on rare occasions to get some greens.
Yellow/Purple Palette:
WN Chinese White, Schmincke Blue Black
Yellows: WN Naples Yelllow, Old Holland Cinnabar Green Extra Light, WN Cadmium Lemon, WN Aureolin, , WN Cadmium Yellow, Schmincke Translucent Orange, Rowney Georgian Raw Umber
Purples: Old Holland Violet Grey, WN Permanent Rose, WN Permanent Magenta, WN Winsor Violet, WN Ultramarine Violet, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Prussian Blue is optional

New Watercolor Color: Daler-Rowney Artists' Raw Umber

2009-03-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

I went to Pearl Paint recently and looked at many different tubes of Raw Umber by many different manufacturers and saw that Daler-Rowney Artists' Raw Umber is the greenest one. I was so happy. It was like Christmas. I'm sure you've had that feeling. The Raw Umber I had been using was Winsor Newton and it was way too red for my liking.
My reds are along the left side going down and my greens are on the top going across. The raw unber is the sixth one from the left on top row. It goes down. I mix it with each of the reds. I highly recommend this exercise. And then you can save the chart as a handy reference for mixing color!
I use raw umber in the yellow/purple palette also. I will most likely post that next.

Red/Green Palette:
WN Chinese White, Schmincke Blue Black
Greens: Old Holland Cinnabar Green Light Extra, WN Sap Green, WN Hooker’s Green, WN Prussian Blue, WN Viridian, WN Winsor Green (Blue Shade), Daler-Rowney Artists' Raw Umber
Reds: Scmincke Translucent Orange, WN Cadmium Orange, WN Quinacidrone Red, WN Cadmium Red, WN Permanent Rose, WN Alizarin Crimson, Holbein Light Red

Fairway Flowers 3x4 inches

2009-02-28T13:30:00.001-08:00

I did the flowers again in my regular size mainly to see about the composition. I wasn't crazy about the flowers just being splayed out so evenly. Not liking this comp much better. Gave up when the flowers gave out. I do like the spots of orange and the vase.

Another 8x10

2009-02-23T13:49:00.001-08:00

Fairway is a large grocery store in NYC. They have great organic produce and practically anything else you can think of. They always have flowers also. Now that my husband is retiring I can shop during the day instead of weekends when it is unbelievably crowded. We also got some cheesecake which was superb. Better than Juniors! (Famous diner in Brooklyn.)

OMG! It's an 8x10!

2009-02-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

Questions from the Netherlands

2009-02-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

I received these questions in an email a couple of days ago and thought I'd answer on line so everyone could benefit.

How long does it take to finish a painting, a small one, I mean do you stop to let the paint dry??

I hate it when the paint dries. I like to start early in the day and work until it's finished.

Do you work on several paintings at a time?

No, definitely not.

Do you work in layers?

No, I work wet in wet.

Do you let them dry in between?

Nope.

I think it is hard to paint over a spot that already has some paint there. Is that your experience too?

Use a palette knife and scrape it off. Since I work wet on wet it's also scapable!

2009-02-17T07:38:00.001-08:00

5x7 on 8x10 board

2009-02-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

2009-02-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

New Workshop in Rising Sun, Indiana

2009-02-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

I'll be giving a 2 day workshop in Rising Sun, Indiana on August 15th and 16th, 2009.
Get this; the cost is only $75 for both days! It's being sponsored by the city. Contact Vera at vera@one.net to register. I'm sure this will fill early. Also, send me your email if you'd like to be on my personal email list for early mailings like these!!