ArtistsNetwork.com 73MATERIALS
Surface:- Arches300-lb.
watercolorpaper
Paints: - M.Graham
- QoR
- StephenQuiller
Brushes: - Rosemary,in
sizesthatrange
froma No. 2
rounduptoa
2-inchflat
on the concept. These pieces are prompted by ideas that
have sometimes percolated in Habets’ mind for years
before she’s ready to fully articulate them. What Plagues
Us (page 75), for example, began as a seed of an idea when
Habets was working with a model in her studio. Nothing
came of the photos at the time, but years later she pulled
them out again and revisited the plague mask in the image.
She began to explore the idea of modern-day plagues and
what it means to be a woman in our modern age. She dug
deep into her own experience to create a piece that tells
a complex story, in which she invites the viewer to engage.
The idea for a paint-
ing often comes from
an existing photo, but
sometimes Habets will
have a concept she
wants to depict and will
hire a model to help her
create the message.
“Photos are always my
starting point,” she says.
With this in mind, she
photographs models in
formal sessions but also
takes photos of figures
on the street or of faces
that intrigue her.
One of her newer
paintings, Still Here
(page 74)—which won
an Honorable Mention
in the 11th Annual
Watermedia Showcase—began with a photo she took years
ago of an older couple. Habets found the woman’s expres-
sion compelling but couldn’t determine what her emotions
conveyed. The artist recently revisited the photo as she
found herself contemplating aging and the fluidity of mem-
ory and reality. The fairytale elements in the background
work with the snow in the foreground to blur the lines
between what’s real in the piece and what’s remembered.
Habets’ nuanced narrative flows from her imagination to
the image. She hopes viewers will further layer their own
experiences into their interpretation of the story she tells.Solitary Pursuit
watercolor on paper,
22x14