Art of the Week: Sunny Sunflowers

Kay Duffy
Santa Clara Branch, CA
“Sunny Sunflowers”
Watercolor
www.kayduffywatercolors.com

 

 

The freedom, spontaneity and speed, the “wet and loose” of watercolor, suits Kay Duffy’s temperament.  She says her approach is “juicy”, incorporating bright colors, broad strokes, and strong shapes to depict feelings and impressions of the natural landscape, flowers and trees, buildings, foreign lands and exotic places.  Duffy finds the freedom of painting on location, en plein air, to be the most enjoyable way to paint. Inspiration for studio work comes from sketches and slides taken while walking in the community, working in her garden, hiking in the wilderness or traveling in foreign lands.

 

Duffy’s recent, more experimental work utilizes an original technique of texturing oriental papers with watercolor pigments. These papers are torn, arranged and collaged to create interesting abstract images.  Metallic foil, pastel and opaque media are also utilized to enhance the image. To see more of her work visit her website.

 

 

9 comments

  1. Mary Lou Taylor says:

    If you are lucky enough to have Kay Duffy as a teacher, you couldn’t have a better one. I’m ready to throw over my poetry and try watercolor painting even if the first (and only so far)lesson from Kay produced just one perfect muffin.
    She has a wonderful sense of humor, which shows in what she paints. Even florals can be lively in her hands.

  2. Kay I love your loose impression of the flowers moving–colors changing in the sun and breezes and the blurred but strongly-colored background. Wow! A charming piece worthy to be admired.

    Linda (from Pikes Peak Branch-Colorado Springs

  3. Charlene Holloway says:

    Kay Duffy’s painting of these flowers is masterful artwork. I love it because Kay’s colorful bouquet of various flowers reminds me of how my own maternal Grandfather, late Charles D. Whitlock, the first African American in Kentucky who established his florist business in 1922 in Louisville, KY, my native city. I was able to work in his floral shop designing many floral arrangements with flowers that closely resemble Kay’s collection of flowers in her beautiful artwork. Brilliant, Kay!

  4. Sara Etgen-Baker says:

    I do love sunflowers and walking in nature. Both inspire me and spark my creativity. So I was particularly drawn to the subject of your art piece. But more than that, I was drawn to the textures and energy and vibrancy of this piece. I felt so alive, as if it was truly spring and the sunflowers were blooming in my own garden. You lifted my spirits on this dreary, cold Texas day! Thank you!

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