Totem inspired

This is a small abstract painting inspired by indigenous totems, just inspired though, not meant to be a copy or something! Another artist was recently criticized for copying the indigenous art style so much so that it could have passed off for the real thing. I've copied impressionist art before but that was all for practice and learning, rather than to commercialize it in some way.

In this work I wanted to create this feeling of the walls closing in around the totem, which was done with the two tree trunk like shapes flanking the totem. The colour scheme is a cool triad of orange-yellow, purple-red, and a turquoise.

To create texture using watercolour start with a wet in wet technique, two tones or just drop some clear water in the wash while it is drying. That will create a blotted look, kind of a starburst effect or like dropping coffee on a carpet would look. When it is dry, use dry brush technique... this is where you keep the paint fairly dry on the brush and drag it across the paper surface, holding the brush on an angle. It works best with cold press or rough press paper because it is bumpy and pulls the paint off in a scratchy way. I used this to create the textured side panels. In doing so, it makes the totem seem smooth by comparison.

5 x 7" cold press watercolour. Dec. 2017