Unwin - The Artistic Touch 5

Artistic Touch 5

Christine M. Unwin, NWS

Cincinnati, Ohio

www.artistsnetwork.com

RANDY HALE, HARBOR LIGHT, NEWPORT BEACH, WATERCOLOR

CHRIS UNWIN, DRAGONFLY, WATERCOLOR

Acknowledgments

This book wouldnt be possible without the tireless work of Don, my very supportive and creative husband. Luckily, he is a very organized person, thinks logically and gets things done in a timely fashion. He has a good eye, and we usually agree on which paintings to select. He helps me focus on the subject at hand instead of flitting about from one thing to another. You right-brained, ADD artists know what Im talking about. Don is sequential. Im not. Together, we make a great team.

Thanks, Don, I love you! I dedicate this book to our family:

Susan and Angelo Vitali and grandchildren, Olivia and Angelo

Laura and Greg Olds and grandchildren, Evan, James, Luke and Annie

David and Monika Unwin and granddaughter, Megan

Carol and Jason Schwindt and grandsons, Griffin and Grayson

Diana and Steve Kuehl and granddaughters, Aurora and Madeline

Art on front cover

CHRIS UNWIN, IRIS, WATERCOLOR

FEALING LIN, BEYOND POETRY & MELODY, WATERCOLOR

Introduction

Selecting works for this edition was once again a daunting task. So many wonderful paintings were submitted. How to choose? Well, I feel that a painting tells a story. It must have impact, and cause an emotional reaction in the viewer. Above all else, it must not be boring. Does it make you think? Does it remind you of a childhood experience or a treasured memory? Does it make you laugh? Is it a subject that you have seen before but is now presented in a whole new light? Does it take your breath away? These are the first considerations. Next it is the skill and competence in handling the material used.

Its difficult to define soul or heart. We respond on a subconscious level. Singers have to reveal themselves and also be authentic. This holds true in painting. We cant be someone else. Even if we wish we were, our audience knows and expects the truth.

In this edition, I tried to present many different approaches to painting. Some have linear qualities by using colored pencil, some have strong confident brush strokes, others prefer Chinese brush work, and some use light in a dramatic way that instantly grabs the viewers attention. In the end, I hope you find the paintings in this book to be not only an interesting collection of artwork but also an inspiring experience for you.

Christine M. Unwin, NWS

Contemplation

HATSUKO MARY HIGUCHI, EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066, SERIES 3, ACRYLIC

Executive Order 9066 is based on an edict by President Franklin Roosevelt during World War II that caused the mass incarceration of 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, most of them United States citizens. The painting shows the anxiety of children facing an unknown future. This is a reminder of what happens when people are judged guilty by their race alone. It is a personal story of what happened to me and to my family when we were imprisoned in a concentration camp at Poston, Arizona from 1942 to 1945.

KENJI NISHIKAWA, A GALLERY IN PARIS, WATERCOLOR

During my trip to Paris, on a narrow street, with camera in hand, I spotted an old bearded man. I watched him as he passed me. He unlocked a door and entered into a small gallery. There were many abstract paintings with figures hanging in the gallery. I think he might have been the painter of those paintings, but I didnt know for sure. The reflection patterns in the window were not interesting to me. I took the opportunity to create more reflections with a Victorian pattern for the top of my painting. I wanted to make the gallery look more French and older than it actually was. The mans eyes and his pipe looked very aged but his appearance was definitely fresh and contemporary in this small gallery in Paris.

FEALING LIN, A. KELLY PRUITT, WATERCOLOR

EDEE JOPPICH, LOVE STORY, WATERCOLOR

Tommy always greets his visiting Grandpa at the door with a book. My painting captures that touching experience. I began by gluing brown wrapping paper to a board, pouring thinned gesso layer over it to create a background for transparent watercolor.

ANNELEIN BEUKENKAMP, BLONDE AMBITION, WATERCOLOR

Blonde Ambition is the result of exploring new subjects and new directions. I have attended figure painting sessions for several years and find myself constantly striving to expand my horizons. My portrait paintings start from my observation of a subject that is intriguing because of its light and shadows, its colors, action or unique viewpoint. I apply pigments loosely, and try to control a medium known for its spontaneity, whether I am painting figures, still life or landscapes.

MURIEL MIMURA, DOLL SELLER, SAN MIGUEL, WATERCOLOR

The photo on which this was based was taken in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The indigenous women, wearing traditional clothing, sell their handmade dolls around the Jardn Principal (central plaza). The strong light, shadows and the bright colors fascinated me.

DON TAYLOR, THE BASKET WEAVER, WATERCOLOR

I was intrigued by the bright colors worn by the Indian artisans and by their artistic mastery of the weaving process. They have been isolated in the Copper Canyon of Mexico for many years. In addition, they make carved wooden dolls dressed in the same fabrics they wear. The bright colors, complimentary colors, and alternating positive and negative shapes help to make this painting more effective.