Paul Jackson’s work, and my copy (at right, in progress) from the workshop exercise

At last week’s workshop taught by Paul Jackson, we worked from his sketch of backlit glass, showing beautiful overlapping colors (pictured at right).

To paint, we used masking fluid to keep areas white or light. The big red vase on the left has eight layers of paint! Often people think watercolor is done in an instant and you can’t go back. But you can, if you let it dry thoroughly and then go back and add layers, starting with the light colors first.

I’ll be teaching what I learned, and we’ll be working from real glass still-lifes at this week’s Watercolor Painting class at The Left Bank Studio (Thursday morning, Sept. 13). (Update: I’ve sold the little bank in Gilbert, and now I’m based in Iowa City. Check out my blog to see what I’m doing these days!)

I started painting an arrangement of some of Betsy’s glassware (shown below, in progress) – the reflections are done by using masking fluid which is later removed. There are three layers of paint so far, and more will be added.

One of the models in an attractive pose

Glass painting in progress: more layers to come!