Deborah Paris: interview, part three

Morning on the Flats by Deborah Paris

Deborah- When I was trying to learn to work with glazes in the landscape I turned to Lynne Windsor. (See my interview of Lynne here.) She worked that way and we both lived in New Mexico at that time.  I had been painting plein air in an alla prima style and I had been investigating ways to create the idea I had. I asked Lynne, "Did she use an underpainting and glazing?" I still have the email she sent me. She had written a detailed email full of information. I was delighted! It had been so hard to find information. I knew that I needed to go back and read about all the old techniques. I needed to understand the hows and whys. I worked and worked, gradually I started to figure it out. At this point I was working in pastel and oil making the transition to oil only. For another year I worked on the problem and I figured out that I would get more luminosity if I used a transparent underpainting. I really started paying attention to transparent paint and the optics involved. I now finally understood why it created different looks-optically. Other aspects of painting started to come together: composition and color harmony being the two most important.

L- Which artists past and present do you admire?

Deborah- Of course George Inness tops the list. John Constable, Corot, Sanford Gifford (big turning point when I saw that show!) Hard to say which contemporary artists I would like to add. There are so many fine artists working today, I wouldn't know who to pick.

L-How do you keep motivated when it gets tough in the studio?

Deborah- I just keep working, usually on another painting. I find that if I shift to something else I can get out of the stuck space. In addition I have learned so much because I work on more than one painting at a time. If I have a problem, oftentimes I find a solution in another painting.
Sometimes a bad day means- take a walk.

L- What is your daily routine?

Deborah- I have very regular studio time. I begin work at 9:30 and finish at about 5:00, seven days a week. I will often answer my emails and respond to my online class questions and discussion before I begin. In the evening I work on my class, research for posts, read or write. During the day I will leave the studio to go for a walk.

Check out Deborah's site. Sign up for one of her marvelous online courses!!