Pareidolia in painted marks
Each of these pieces started with the premise of an abstract, foliage-like background. Using the natural phenomena of pareidolia (the tendancy to make meaningful images from abstract forms). I went in with the intention of painting Goddess-like, body positive figures so deliberately sought this imagery in the flowing shapes made by the watercolour.
When the figures were visualised, I added features to make them emerge from their backgrounds and delineate the shapes of the bodies discovered hidden on the paint. Some became leafy forest-spirit-like creatures, others more watery, and I chose botanical and mythological names to fit.
Intuitive Painting
This technique is an easily replicable, intuitive painting technique which lends itself to different subject matter, although faces and figures tend to be foremost in our minds.
Utilising the properties of watercolour as a media that has ‘a mind of it’s own’, may also help students of watercolour to work more freely and loosely with the medium.
It also brings to mind the magical mark-making techniques of artists like Georgiana Houghton who used spiritual practice to channel her abstract, flowing, painterly works.
