AMY CHRISMAN Original Watercolors

Watercolor paints are different than oils and acrylics in several ways. The most notable is that watercolors are transparent, whereas oils and acrylics are opaque.  The translucent quality of watercolor paints creates a bright and luminous effect that differentiates them from oil and acrylic paints.  As the name implies, watercolors are dispersed and thinned with water. Acrylics also use water.  Oils use solvents such as turpentine for this purpose. Watercolors are traditionally applied to special watercolor paper. Oils and acrylics are typically done on canvas. Watercolor paintings need to be hung and protected under a mat and glass (or plexiglass), and supported with a frame. Apart from the protection it brings to the painting, matting and framing also enhances its appearance.  Oil and acrylic paintings typically do not have glass in front of them.

Because watercolor paints are transparent, "mistakes" cannot be easily hidden by applying more paint on top.  In fact, the more paint applied to mask a problem area, the more it tends to make the painting look "overworked." Trying to fix "mistakes" in a watercolor painting often results in ruining its appearance; a frustrating experience for many artists. Also, watercolor paints are often difficult to control because they are inherently unpredictable in the way they interact with the paper and other pigments.  Another challenging feature about watercolor paints is that unlike oil and acrylic paints, the color white does not exist. Therefore, in a watercolor painting, white areas are achieved by allowing the white of the paper to show through. Many artists will use an opaque white acrylic paint to apply over an area to make it white. However, there are watercolor "purists" that will strive to create a painting without using any opaque substitutes, thereby making it more challenging to achieve the desired result. (See the photo of "The Lamon House" for an example of a white building created without the use of white paint).

How long does it take for you to do a watercolor painting?

I find that along with a good composition, the quality of light and shadows are an important aspect of a painting’s appearance. Therefore, I take many photos of my subject at different times of the day, to record the subject’s appearance in different light conditions. I also look for important details that I may want to emphasize in the painting. I then create a sketch on the watercolor paper from a composite of the many photos I have taken. I then choose my palette, meaning I decide which colors will best suit my subject. Many hours are devoted to just preparing to paint the actual painting. From photographing, to sketching, to painting, it typically takes 40 hours over the course of 2 months to complete a painting.

What is the difference between a print and an original?

In the context of what I do, a print is a reproduction of the original watercolor painting.

What is a "limited edition" print?

A limited edition print means that there are only a certain quantity produced of that particular image. For example, let’s say that an edition of only 100 prints of a certain size are made from an original painting. The artist then signs and numbers them to show that a given print is number "x" out of 100 made. No more prints just like that one will ever be printed again. Therefore, the prints have added value because of the artist’s original signature and the record of the fact that only 100 were created.

What’s so great about a "giclee" print?

A giclee print is a museum quality, fine-art print. The printing equipment utilizes state-of-the-art technology which produces a print that is virtually indistinguishable from the original painting. The high quality inks are resistant to fading and yellowing and are printed on archival watercolor paper. Under normal conditions, a giclee print will last for generations without deteriorating. Therefore a giclee print makes a great investment for art buyers and collectors.

Why are you making prints of Vermilion County landmarks?

First and foremost, I want to do something positive for my community. I am impressed with the history of Vermilion County, Illinois and would like to do what I can to celebrate it. I would like for people to notice and be proud of the many great qualities that Vermilion County possesses. Making prints available to nonprofit organizations is a way I can offer my skills to help raise money for needed charities or preservation projects.