"The Sea of Halo - 08/2007" is one of several paintings that I did while trying different techniques on Yupo.
Yupo is a new substrate for watercolor painting. Originally used in Japan as a sign making material, Yupo is a plastic rather than a paper or canvas. Watercolor paints float on the surface rather than being absorbed as occurs with paper, thus the colors are very vibrant and bright.
With Yupo you can literally wash the painting right off of the substrate, which can be a handy thing if the painting you are working on just isn't turning out the way you would like. Once cleaned and dry, Yupo can be painted on again.
In composing this painting I first laid down a layer of yellow. Washes are a bit tricky with Yupo as the surface beads water. Once dry I started establishing the horizon and atmospheric elements. With Yupo each time you touch the painting with a wet brush you pick up, blow out, blend or move the paint that has previously been put down. Compositional planning is a must.
I was able to create a wide range of reds, oranges, and browns by allowing the pigment on my brush to blend with the underlying yellow wash in creating the wind blown sea.
Also unlike paper, you can paint very quickly on Yupo. The paints dry quickly and a hair dryer can be used to great benifit, unlike under certain conditions with paper/clayboard/canvas. While a painting on paper may require 10 to 80 hours to complete due to numerous washes and detail work, Yupo allows me to create a painting in minutes to hours. Thus Yupo allowed me to capture some of my emotions in the painting as I was painting.
All in all I am very happy with this painting.
If you would like a very bright art print to give a little pop to your office or den "The Sea of Halo - 08/2007" is the print for you.
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