| Author | Message | ||
  George Unregistered guest |
Correction: That should read; conservative OR liberal practices and approaches | ||
George Unregistered guest |
Jack, you’re exactly right, the real issue is not about conservative of liberal practices and approaches to painting with watercolor – both have their place. It’s about correcting false beliefs. There are those in the larger art community who tend to look down on watercolor artists. Part of the reason for this is because of instances of misinformation and myth that are passed around as fact. | ||
Grizrev Senior Member Username: Grizrev Post Number: 462 Registered: 8-2006 |
George, It is a big deal if foolish restrictions like the one you mention exclude a person like yourself, who prefers to use synthetic paper, from an exhibition! It's not that you cannot at present find more flexible and broad-minded venues to exhibit your paintings, but, if ideas like this take root, more and more venues may close in the future! I have nothing against strict transparent watercolorists holding special exhibitions and competitions with very restrictive requirements, but it would be a shame for them to try to impose those restrictions on all watercolor exhibitions. At the same time, for those who enjoy maximum freedom from restrictions in regard to materials, it might be more appropriate for them to focus on "water media" or "mixed media" competitions and exhibitions. This perspective is the opposite side of the coin from the concern of transparent watercolor purists that too many restrictions on materials are being relaxed. Surely there is a sanity of balance somewhere between. I believe the flexibility in the choice of materials and techniques used historically in watercolor painting could be a helpful guide, as has been discussed previously and elsewhere on this board. Note that I say historical "flexibility" would be a useful guide or standard, not necessarily the same historical choices. Materials exist now that did not exist then. All of this may not be a big deal at present, but if foolish statements (such as the one that suggests using synthetic material renders watercolor paintings "fugitive") are not nipped in the bud, they (and others like them) might become a big deal and constitute unnecessary obstacles for exhibitions in general, whether they be watercolor, water media or mixed media exhibitions! While exhibitions may rightly be interested in comparing "apples with apples" in the awarding of honors, we cannot afford to lose sight of what should be the overriding goal of exhibitions -- appreciating, rewarding and promoting artistic skills and talent in the employment of materials, whatever they may be, that results in a true work of art. | ||
Joanna Advanced Member Username: Joanna Post Number: 117 Registered: 10-2006 |
I wish they'd stop picking on watercolor. Look at pastels. Holy hell. Talk about a problem. | ||
George Unregistered guest |
Jack, at first I thought about not making a big deal out of this issue but then the thought occurred to me that apparently no member of that watercolor society knew enough about synthetic paper to correct the misinformation that “Yupo is fugitive.” | ||
Grizrev Senior Member Username: Grizrev Post Number: 446 Registered: 8-2006 |
George, Quite right! I would guess that the person who made the statement that "Yupo is fugitive" did so because it is easier to lift paint from its surface. Isn't it true that all watercolors should be protected by glass (or an applied film) because paint can later be lifted from EVERY dry watercolor? Surely some kind of effort to redress such ignorance will be made by informed professional artists. | ||
George Unregistered guest |
There are many poorly informed watercolor artists who attempt to prohibit the use of synthetic paper as a substrate for paintings in watercolor shows. These artists are responsible for the words, “no Yupo” found on the entry forms used in the watercolor shows sponsored by their respective watercolor societies. I’m posting this message because of a recent conversation I had with a very charming and gracious member of one particular watercolor society who informed me that the words “no Yupo” were used by her society because; “Yupo is fugitive.” Because of this and other misinformed comments I’ve heard concerning synthetic papers I think it’s time to put out some facts. 1. Synthetic paper is a sheet of plastic that is coated with a concoction of chemicals allowing it to be used as a paper substitute. Many commercial and industrial organizations around the world use synthetic paper as a paper substitute. 2. Yupo is only one of many synthetic papers. 3. Synthetic papers are just as appropriate for making watercolor paintings as are synthetic pigments and synthetic brushes. 4. Synthetic papers are not fugitive. 5. Synthetic papers will not cause watercolor paintings to deteriorate. 6. Synthetic papers will not cause watercolor paintings to fade. 7. Synthetic papers will not cause watercolor paintings to peel. 8. Synthetic papers will not cause watercolor paintings to bleed in damp weather. 9. Synthetic papers are perfectly safe to use for watercolor paintings. 10. Synthetic papers are perfectly appropriate for all styles of art. (I included this last fact because of one comment made by a nationally known artist who should have know better, I’ll not embarrass her by saying who it was, who made the claim that Yupo should not be used for realistic paintings.) |
