In his bi-weekly letter where his personal thoughts and insights are shared, Robert Genn, a renowned Canadian painter and inspirational writer, recently quoted one of his readers' question:

"How do you get yourself into a right brain mode? ... I've experienced it in working with oils.  Time disappears and one is totally in the present.  Watercolor is another matter.  There are so many things one has to think about in the process that I find myself much more left-brained than I want to be."

In response, Genn offers a few suggestions for artists to get into "a dreamy flow" or to become simply lost in their work: (1) Try things like the radio that occupy one part of the brain so the creative gates of another will be opened; (2) Try using a lot of basic technique and creative formula so some of it becomes second nature; (3) Repeat strokes or motifs... (click here to read entire text)

Although I disagree if it is suggested that watercolorists may be more left-brained than oil or acrylic painters, the reader's words reflect a notion (or myth?) that there's so much planning involved in painting a watercolor thus leaving less room for creativity or spontaneity.  This belief is also underlying reasoning for a comment like "watercolor is such a difficult and unforgiving medium."

Normally I do a little planning before each painting session but I thought it'd be interesting to see what I might come up if I didn't plan at all.  So I closed my eyes... and the first image that I saw was the Palais des Papes in the town of Avignon, France (I don't know why).  There is a huge square just in front of it and I remembered people enjoying the view of the majestic Palais, sitting at outside cafes.


   In drawing, I had to use one of my photos just for the architectural details, and then I put it aside and allowed myself to be lost in the scene...  The finished painting looks like a sepia-toned antique picture, and I kind of like the mood of the time and place.

My left-brain might have told me to do a few things differently, but I enjoyed this exercise.  I recommend Robert Genn's Twice-Weekly Letter if you are not yet on his mail list (click to subscribe).

Click here for a larger image of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (on 9 x 12 in. paper)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Sold