Blue Tail, Blue Handle

"Blue Tail, Blue Handle", by Kurt Plinke
11" x 14", Arches 140 lb cold press
Watercolor

This one is not finished. In fact, I may start a second board using a different style, one that incorporates a much more sparsely populated color palette. As I sit at the edge of my garden shed and look through the doorway, I see all of these hues of blues, oranges, browns and violets. But when I paint these colors as I see them, they feel a little contrived and overworked and in need of editing.

On the other hand, I like this painting in many respects.  I think I managed to get the feel of light coming through the doorway, and I like the series of varied verticals that are the doorway and tool handles. I like the brushwork in places. I like how the repetition of shovel-shapes feels.

Pretty sure the next attempt will be much looser, quicker, and closer to monochromatic, but with a similar sort of composition. (I used a lot of the tools today out in the garden, and they are in different places now. The composition will have to change.) I may wait a few days, too.

And yes, I do have a hoe with a handle being held together with electrician's tape. Lots of it.

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