watercolor, 2016
available, 11"x15"
I've done a few neon signs in the past. Most of them -- the successful ones, anyway -- were done large and as realistic as possible. So, I wasn't sure about doing this one only 11"x15" and allowing some leeway with edges and color and blooms. My biggest problem when I'm in the painting process is not standing back and looking at the "big picture," or considering the painting as a whole. I'm always too close looking at and painting details. Part of impressionism and loosening up in general is taking in the big picture, suggesting instead of showing. Precise detail painting is "showing." Suggesting is about giving the viewer the idea of a thing and letting them fill in the details. That's the place I'm going. It's funny how a realist painting with plenty of what look like details reminded me of this. But, some of those "details" actually are just suggestions, a mark here, a dry-brush stroke there.
