About The Paintings
Woven Watercolors
by Carol L. Dasseos
Media: watercolor, acrylic, handmade papers, watercolor pencil, wax crayon
Method and Inspiration: This series of water colors are inspired by the intense color of my flower gardens and the vibrant play of pattern that reminds me of my grandmothers patchwork quilts. As I child I used to lay on the quilt she had made me and peer at one tiny section at a time, imagining where that particular square came from, my uncles old shirt, or a dress my mother wore as a child.
In the same way, as I create my paintings I study up close the tiny sections that will make up the overall composition of the finished piece. They evolve as paint is layered with papers to create rich textures and dramatic color transitions. The painting is then torn into strips and I experiment with different configurations to create a composition. Additional paint is occasionally applied after weaving to finish the overall piece.
Materials: I paint on Arches 300 lb paper. I also use watercolor pencils, acrylic paint, assorted handmade paper, fabric, and wax crayons. The pieces are woven and glued together then archivally mounted on Arches 130 lb paper.