Priscilla Levesque
The relationships between buildings and their surrounding landscapes are intriguing. When I am outdoors, whether driving, walking or biking, I watch for possible painting subjects such as the way structure shapes overlap or trees cast shadows on them. I start every painting on location and do finishing details and color adjustments in the studio.
For the past few years I have used the pointillist technique, which was developed by Georges Seurat in the 1880s. Seurat built up colors by juxtaposing tiny dots of various hues which merge when seen from a distance. In this “optical mixing” the color mixture occurs in the eye, not on the palette.
Usually I start a painting by blocking in all areas of the paper or panel with transparent watercolor. Then I apply small dots of casein to build up texture. Casein is very useful for this technique because it is opaque, thick, and dries fast.
Even after a painting is “finished”, I usually see details which could be improved and I make changes. When working from observation, I find myself trying to reproduce what I see. Away from the subject, in my studio, I can let my imagination guide me. I try to build on the memory of a landscape or still life, rather than repeat the subject precisely.
Priscilla’s website
For the past few years I have used the pointillist technique, which was developed by Georges Seurat in the 1880s. Seurat built up colors by juxtaposing tiny dots of various hues which merge when seen from a distance. In this “optical mixing” the color mixture occurs in the eye, not on the palette.
Usually I start a painting by blocking in all areas of the paper or panel with transparent watercolor. Then I apply small dots of casein to build up texture. Casein is very useful for this technique because it is opaque, thick, and dries fast.
Even after a painting is “finished”, I usually see details which could be improved and I make changes. When working from observation, I find myself trying to reproduce what I see. Away from the subject, in my studio, I can let my imagination guide me. I try to build on the memory of a landscape or still life, rather than repeat the subject precisely.
Priscilla’s website