Mini watercolor box
When Annie saw my paintbox post she moaned," I was so disappointed as a kid to get a box with just ONE row of colors. I made a mess with them". Having more colors does not necessarily help if you don't know what to do with them. It's like seasoning a dish - how much or how little you add of one color to another. Too much salt and...ahem. I bought this one-row set in Aix. When you're a paintbox junkie you gotta get your fix any which way.
In Aix I discovered Les Toiles du Soleil fabric makers. They have a shop at 101, rue du Bac and one on west 19th street in NYC but it never made a dent pre-Aix.
Somehow all that color and all that sunlight in Aix worked it's magic.
This place is a riot of colors and they all work beautifully together.
Textures too.
I would love to visit their factory in St Laurent de Cerdans, Perpignon. Formerly Catalan weaving it was found in 1897.
Yet the combinations look so contemporary.
More vibrant stripes on rue du cherche midi at Contesse du Barry
Round the corner from Les Toiles by a kids playground these painted bollards.
My watercolor teacher David Dewey made us paint with just ONE warm color to begin with - Burnt Sienna.
Then we got to add a cool ultramarine blue. Those exercises were drilled into us and I still fall back on them time and again.
I always say get David Dewey's watercolor book though not so easy to find the 1st edition with this cover. Many color exercises, but it's the best. I left my copy in NYC & just reordered. The cover alone is an inspiration. Aix had something to do with wanting it again.
Color and stripes are everywhere.
Apple sketch sheet
Isn't color delicious?
