About “Tenderness”

It’s the paper! Ask me why this piece appears different from my other works and I’ll tell you: the paper challenged my painting skills. “Tenderness” is painted on 640gsm rather than the 300gsm that I’ve grown accustomed to using. Same world renowned paper producers, but a much thicker paper to work on. When I began this piece, didn’t realize how much this change in paper would affect my process.

It absorbed the paint differently from what I had grown accustomed to. The layers soaked into it like the blotting paper of yesteryear forcing me to add so many more layers to get to my darks than what was needed in the past.

In turn, I was able to achieve a soft fuzzy quality within my washes on this paper in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. A great example of this is just above her nose in the bridge between her eyes.

The paint didn’t “pick-up” the way I’m used to either, allowing me to create more complex textures like what you find on her nose.

Smoother than the 300gsm, makes it ideal for those tiny-tiny hairs that you want to reach out and touch because they are so small it’s hard to believe they are there.

Feel free to compare it to my “In the Trees” painting (video showcased on my blog) which was created on 140gsm and you will see the differences again.

I walked away from this painting so many times. It was challenging finding my footing since the paper made me feel like I was learning how to paint all over again. I kept coming back though, as it was so lovely to touch, I had to believe I would get there with some persistence. Now, I can’t help but think it was the journey of self discovery that adds another dimension to this piece.

Koalas have always been dear to me, as a little girl I slept with a koala rather than a teddy bear. Maybe I was destined to end up in Australia. Proceeds from this painting will be put towards reforesting habitat areas for koalas starting right here in Cobargo. So much was lost during the massive fires of January 2020, but as I look out my window at the wildlife that either survived or returned making new homes for themselves amongst all the fresh greenery I know there is hope for our koalas too.

Recipient of a Commended Award, “Tenderness” - of the "Mother's Love Collection"

Original painting was SOLD at the 2021 Autumn Exhibit by Artists for Painted Dogs.

35x46cm on Arches Aquerelle Cold Pressed 640gsm paper using both Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton watercolors and Black Velvet brushes.