When people enter my booth at STLV, they first are interested in the paintings themselves but don't always notice why I make them the way I do.  I don't need to work in watercolor, I also love oils, pastel, charcoal - well, everything!  But watercolor is especially good for the actual reason I started making these - for autographs.

I greatly enjoy going to conventions and the cruise, and I know what keeps the actors and other various talent coming is that they can make a living doing it.  I wanted to support them, keep them wanting to come back, but I could not bring myself to get just a signed headshot or screenshot from the show.  What would I even do with it?  Keep it in a binder?  And though the photographs with actors is technically something you could display, it didn't feel right to do that.  If I only had a couple, sure, but I knew I didn't want to stop at a couple - and a wall full of them wasn't for me.  

It was a suggestion from my husband that solved the problem - you could paint something and have that signed.  Of course!  And what better way than to integrate it into my favorite style of watercolors - the pen and watercolor mix.  I love being able to spend lots of time on the drawing, getting all the details in there, before being able to be more painterly and loose with the application of color.  Being looser with painting something I think I will be working on for the rest of my life, but with this I get to practice it - a LOT.

My original painting - full of signatures!

I call it "The Original Series" because these drawings, before any paint is applied, are the basis for "The Next Generation", the collection of remarque paintings made from these drawings.  A remarque is also an original painting, but it starts with an archivally printed copy of the original drawing, done on a smaller scale than the original.  I usually limit myself to 5 remarques of each size for each image - I found that I can manage 5 at a time, adding each layer of color to each one as I go.  It's a great painting exercise for me because I HAVE TO work fast, I have to simplify even more than usual.  In short, I have to be painterly!

Click here for a timelapse of me painting the 8x10 remarque paintings of "Do you seek Jamaharon?"

And finally, I also offer prints of The Original Series, "Syndication" if you will.  Each original has a link where you can order those.  To use for signatures I recommend you get a paper print, but you can get prints on everything from metal to a puzzle!

Click here for the prints you can get of "Do you seek Jamaharon?"

These paintings were the inspiration for my entire Ars Astra Collective booth at STLV - there didn't seem to be the types of things for sale at the conventions that I wanted.  And I thought, if I wanted it, maybe more people would too.

Congratulations and thank you for purchasing one of my watercolor paintings.  I’d like them to last as long as possible for you, so here are some tips for their care.

Always keep your painting in a frame.  Frame with a mat or separator to keep the painting off the glass. Paintings should never touch the glass surface directly - they may become stuck to it.

Use museum grade UV-protected glazing and keep your painting away from bright windows to minimize fading. I use only artist grade paints with pigments that are rated highly for lightfastness, so fading risk is already low, but I still recommend using high quality glass to protect your painting for years to come.

I hope that you use my paintings for the signatures you get at conventions!  If you do, use only archival pens, like Micron or other pens sold for drawing.  Avoid Sharpies or any "permanent" markers — they bleed, fade, and damage the paper over time.

Though all my paintings use only 100% cotton rag watercolor paper, which is more archival than wood pulp paper, changing humidity can damage watercolor paintings.  Keeping them in a frame helps moderate humidity changes, but don’t store them in attics, basements or garages where the humidity changes rapidly and often.  Keep them inside with you - all the better to see them anyway!  Avoid hanging watercolors over a fireplace, in bathrooms or in kitchens - all three areas have humidity and temperatures that could spell trouble.

If you purchased a framed original from me, I’ve used only archival matboard, framing tape and backing boards.  If you purchased a remarque, or want to change the framing of your original, please make sure you use high quality materials.

Another word on remarques.  These more-affordable paintings are just as archival as my originals.  The printing of the base drawing is done with archival inks comparable to archival drawing pens, and they are printed on 140lb 100% cotton cold-pressed watercolor paper - the same quality as the original paintings.

I hope this information helps, and that you enjoy your painting for years to come.

🖖