Michele Frantz, Artist
Arcadia Art Studio
In the Spotlight
The Eyes Have It
The Eyes Have It
Watercolor on Yupo
11"x14" ~ 2008 ~ $125
I was in an art exhibit about 8 years ago where several works were spread out on a table. I don't recall that we had any customers that day, but these particular works drew a crowd of artists, all tilting the paintings every which way and exclaiming, "What media IS that?" They turned out to be watercolors -- on Yupo, which is a "synthetic paper." (In other words -- it's plastic!)
On regular paper, the colors soak in somewhat, but on Yupo the pigments all sit on the surface, which brightens them and gives them an unusual, more painterly appearance. It also makes the pigment layer more fragile, so you frequently get unplanned but interesting textures. It's not the easiest surface I've ever worked with, but the results sparkle. It's a great surface when you're trying to loosen up your brushwork.
This particular scene was inspired by a walk on the Manassas Battlefield. The trees were actually beeches, but mine came out looking more like birches, and I liked the result, so -- the eyes have it.
