Hope your Thanksgiving Day was peaceful, happy and full of good things!
I finished a new painting and am REALLY happy with it. I was running low on a couple of colors that I use alot so I decided to order some art materials. At the same time I was reading about new art materials in one of my current magazines. They had good things to say about the new Arches artboards. Now I have not had great luck with Arches paper because of the buckling and warping when I work super wet and I have not had good luck with illustration board because it curls up when I work in watercolor. I was sceptical but I ordered five sheets anyway – who knows? Well this product did curl up like the illustration board but I was able to reverse most of that by rewetting and taping the board. I like the surface (CP) and was happy with the durability. Previously, the largest painting I’ve done in my cancer series was 12″ X 16″. This board is 16″ X 20″ so I used a whole sheet. I thought the larger size would push me to add more complexity. When working on this I was thinking about blood pulsing and then got into the change in seasons and the pulse of nature. This feeling of throbbing, pulsing life is what I wanted to share. I hope you see my hope, my feeling of change and my vision of a new day dawning.
Pulse 1 - Watercolor on 16" X 20" Arches Watercolor Board
Linda Halcomb's Blog 
I see positive energy pulsing up as if from below ground and overcoming all else. I would think the larger size to be daunting, but you proved it a perfect tableau for your craft.
It is ver scary when your scaling up in size but I was anxious to do it because this style has the potential to create a dynamic, exciting piece of art. I was very happy with the way my first bigger painting turned out…scary but gratifying!
This should have more comments. Everybody must be busy with Thanksgiving stuff. This painting is a wonder: the colors, the contrasts, the electric flow across the painting space — everything.
Thank you so much! I am really happy with this painting and your validation means a lot.
Wonderful and inspiring!
Thank you Jane. This one was fun to make and my husband loves it.
I really like this painting. I feel the throbbing and pulsing of life in this piece. The lines and circles are strong images and the colors work so well. It feels to me like the colors are being transformed as they pass through the lines and circles.
BTW, I don’t know if this is regular protocol, but sometimes when my watercolor paper is all bendy after I’ve finished painting, I sometimes iron the paper. I put a white towel over it and “press” it. It does work.
Thank you for the idea. I’ve tried many different approaches but not this one. It makes sense. Do you wet it first?
I always look forward to your new additions to this series you are working on. I like the abstract quality of them, the way the paint flows and that they come about from your feelings. What really intrigues me aout this painting is the greenish-yellow flowing up to the left and into the soft blues and purples before becoming warm and red and yellow. Reminds me of the darkness being divided. Beautiful, Linda.
Thank you Leslie. I also liked this section and the feeling of light…and hope.