Surfer Riding a Wave – Mini Watercolor Painting on a Wood Block

This is a post from Belinda Del Pesco’s Art Blog Belinda Del Pesco.

Surfer Riding a Wave – Mini Watercolor Painting on a Wood Block

Painting Watercolor on Wood Blocks

Decades ago, I experimented with painting watercolors on a gesso coated wood plaque I picked up in a clearance bin at a craft store. The pigments handle very different on gesso compared to painting on paper.

You can lift non-staining colors back up with a wet brush to get back to white, and the watery edges of the pooling paint are quite pronounced on gesso.

I mentioned this to my step dad, and about a week later, I got a Priority mail box filled with 3.5 x 3.5 inch pine blocks he cut for me in his garage. He also included a packet of photos taken in and around his coastal California community. I’ve made many paintings (like this one) and prints (like this one) from those images over the years. 💗 [Thanks, TC]

Mini Watercolors, Ready to Hang

I painted tons of mini watercolors on pine blocks, wrapping the image around the edges of the wood, and then sealing them with clear coat so they wouldn’t require frames or glass.

I also drilled a hole in the back of the block and taped a nail to it. Easy peasy – find a wall, hammer the nail in and hang the mini watercolor. Some folks bought multiples, and sent beautiful images of a grid or a row of evenly spaced, tiny art.

Below, I’ve uploaded a few of them so you get the idea. Have you ever tried painting watercolors on gesso coated paper or wood? If you want to give t a go, there are lovely 5″ x 5″ wood panels available here.

Cleaning the Studio

I’m cleaning my studio, purging un-used supplies, and overhauling my entire Etsy Shop.

I’ve dropped off a car load at my local high school art department, and re-arranged all the storage spaces on shelves and in my closet with labeled bins so I can find things. What a wonder. Index cards and binder clips to the rescue.

I also want to fit a sewing area into the little 8×8 room I use as a printmaking, etching press, painting, blogging, YouTube video tutorial filming and creative studio. It *can* be done, and I’m doggedly determined. Have you squeezed a dozen flavors of creativity into one table space? Share some tips, please.

In the melee of my pull out-sort-purge process, I found one last watercolor on pine block of a surfer, riding a wave.

A Toast to Your Clean Out

If you’re on a clean out and purge mission, I’m sending good thoughts and a cool wash of courage to Let Go of things you aren’t using. Life is short, and we have a lot of art to make. Sometimes, the best approach is to limit the media and supplies, and dive deep in the process we love the most.

Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you in the next post -

Belinda

P.S. The last time I did this purging and storage rehab, I wrote about tools and supplies I use here.

Art Quote

To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it. ~Kurt Vonnegut

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