They Live (The Last of Seven Pieces: Part 4)

The fourth installment in the seven pieces collection, this one ended up looking quite extra-terrestrial hence the name. Uncharacteristically, there are no characters in this painting, compare this to Part 3 of the collection. In these seven paintings (they are all done now), I tried to explore different techniques with each one that I have pioneered in previous works, and also I created unique colour schemes for each one. In this case I avoided making too many sharp outlines by using a very pale blue to make the outlines. This idea first came up in "Paper Chase; No More Outlines). There is a also a diffuse-light monochrome look to create the feeling of an alien atmosphere, similar to what appeared in "Birdman".

Watercolour paint can be wild and crazy, which frustrates some beginners. Over time, the medium can be controlled, sort of like Neo in the matrix who learns how to control the world because it is all computer code anyways. In this painting I used a strong wet-in-wet technique to create the shadow underneath the central focal point (the tree). The trick there is to wet the paper just enough with clean water, and then drop in the shadow colour at the right moment, with the right moisture in the mix. It takes practice to develop a feel for it, there is no real rule or anything. The same technique was used in the sky, and for various shadows and layers throughout. Like the other doodles from this era (doodled in 2013) this painting fits the theme of escapism.

11.5 x 7.5 " ( 28 x 19 cm) Watercolour, cold press, July 2016