January demonstrator and General Membership meeting

CAL's January meeting will feature the water color artist Louisa McHugh.  Guests are always welcome.  Here is a brief bio from Louisa:

My paintings tend to be direct reflections of myself and my emotions.  The first step in my process is to photograph my subjects.  I find that I'm most attracted to the grittier scenes, industrial and architectural.  I was always a bit of a tomboy and my choice of scenery and use of color seem to mirror that aspect of my character.

      Next I do a very detailed rendering and paint an under-layer with one or two colors for a monochromatic base.  At this stage the painting is full of precise detail, almost photo-realistic.  The careful attention to detail represents the part of me that is in control and focused.  I then go in and lightly add bits of color to liven up the base layer.  The color choice usually reflects my current mood and you can tell when times are happy or sad.

      In the last stage I destroy my meticulous work by attacking the paper with splashes of water and paint.  I allow for absolute chaos and take a leap of faith every time that the paint will paint itself.  It is an act of letting go.  

      The final result is a watercolor filled with intricate details drifting in and out of focus. 

Here is a link to her web site:

http://www.loumcq.com/gallery.html