Watercolor: Florals & Botanicals

Focusing on Formats

with Barbara Fudurich

OFTEN THE SUBJECT ITSELF will determine the format—the shape, size, and orientation—of my paintings. For example, a horizontal format is logical for a broad landscape, whereas a vertical format is better suited for tall subjects, such as a vase of flowers. But just because your format is rectangular, that doesn’t mean your painting need be. I often like to create a free-form composition— a vignette—that doesn’t cover the entire paper. In a vignette, parts of the scene are omitted and most of the subject fades away along the edges. Although you can blur the edges of your subject evenly, creating a perfect oval, I prefer more asymmetrical designs that provide interest and a sense of movement in a composition. ...