“Heritage Still Life”
Transparent watercolor on paper
28 x 22 in.
About the painting:
I was staying with my aunt and uncle, while traveling out of state working on a series of figure paintings. While there, I noticed his bagpipes propped against a wall and was immediately inspired to do a still life painting. I began setting up an interesting composition, added the family tartan, some single malt scotch, and soon knew I had something special: a Heritage Still Life.
My medium of choice is transparent watercolor; it has qualities that interest and challenge me as an artist. Without the use white paint, which is opaque, the white of the paper must be carefully preserved for the highlights, as the areas adjacent are built up.
In this way, watercolor captures light. Edgar Whitney said, “White paper showing through a transparent wash is the closest approximation to light in all the media, and light is the loveliest thing that exists.” I tend to agree.
See more work at matthewbird.com
And go behind the scenes via Instagram: _matthewbird_ and Facebook: Matthew Bird Studio
