40 Watercolor artist | FEBRUARY 2019
Georgia Watercolor
Society
John Salminen
Duluth, Minn.
El Series No. 2, Chicago
(watercolor on paper, 36x36)“I began my formal training as
an abstract expressionist, and
abstraction is still essential to
my work. I find cityscapes to be
a rich source of interesting
geometric shapes that lend
themselves to the creation of
an abstract underpainting.
“In El Series No. 2, Chicago,
I started the painting with no
particular subject in mind. As the
painting progressed, I introduced
some slightly recognizable forms:
girders, cables and suggestions of
an overall structure. At this point,
I let the painting choose a direc-
tion, and my intuitive love of the
elevated train directed me to that
familiar subject. The last additions
were the fi gures, added for scale,
and, fi nally, the speeding train,
complete with blurred rail lights.
“My colors are complementary
blends. I find that limiting color
helps me concentrate on value.
As the piece develops and my pal-
ette gets dirtier, the resulting
‘mud’ becomes a great vehicle for
creating rich grays. The final
addition is the inclusion of small
bits of pure intense color to serve
as accents.”“A strong abstract understructure is essential to a strong
painting, whether or not the inished painting is representa-
tional. Salminen’s painting is unquestionably a superb abstract
painting, but includes that little bit of reality we all enjoy.”
—KATHLEEN CONOVER, JURORNorthwest
Watercolor
Society
Matthew Bird
Sykesville, Md.
Not Interested
(watercolor on paper,
22x30)