Unfortunately I've been forced to miss today's AVA session as I'm waiting for an engineer from the cable company to arrive to remedy a problem. The subject today is `Experimental', the rule being that brushes are not allowed other than to mix the paints. I'd been scratching my head what to do and had come up with palette knives, sponges and bamboo pens. In it's place here are a selection of portraits in watercolour by some of the very best artists (in my opinion) around. They show a variety of styles, and while portraits are not everyone's favourite subject they do illustrate the range of possibilities from realistic to expressionistic. The way colour has been used is also something worth noting.
Janet Rogers the brilliant American artist. A study in delicacy.
Stephie Butler - a wonderful and distinctive touch also very delicate.
Mary Whyte -the highly regarded American artist
Liu Yungshen - another of these fabulous Chinese artists
Ted Nuttall - another American with a fabulous talent
Valerio Libralato - I don't know this artist but love his work
The guru of Chinese artists Guan Weixing
Stan Miller - enough said!
Sylvia Pelissimo (Agnes-Cecille) - controversial and often somewhat scary
Millind Mullick - great artist and great guy
Shi Tao - another of these talented Chinese artists, most of who are students of Guan Weixing, although I don't know if that is the case here.
Svetlana Danovich - great use of colour
Tina Kligaard - bold and thought provoking.
Paul Lovering - great portraits in s very distinctive style
I hope these prove of interest. They shouldn't be viewed just as portraits and dismissed - if portraits aren't your thing - but considered in the way watercolour has been used to create different effects to those in the mainstream oils.