Thursday, May 28, 2009

5 things learned about painting in the Andes

Moray Agricultural Complex -- Incas used these precisely irrigated circular terraces for agricultural experimentation, taking advantage of the sharp elevation differentials and dramatic microclimate variation.
Watercolour and crayon
© Charlene Brown


1. If you go on an Adventure by Disney, you’re not going to have time to finish more than about one painting – what with climbing every mountain, fording every stream, white water rafting on the Urubamba and all.
2. A GPS is useful for plotting latitude and longitude and direction of view on your sketchbook map. This data can help in the identification of distant landmarks (in the above case, 13 S 73 W, looking WNW, Veronique Glacier)
3. Fluorescent, bronze and copper paint or markers produce a lovely South American look.
4. Masquepen masking fluid in 30ml applicator bottle and piece of crepe to remove it travel beautifully!
5. You need a Ziploc bag for ephemera – extra stuff and things not suitable for collage. Plasticized ice cream bar wrappers, for example, have great designs, but can only be glued after scanning and printing on more suitable paper.

Here is a detail view of my grandson’s version of Moray. He actually climbed down to the lowest (and hottest) level of the complex, so included the cantilevered stone steps between the terraces in his painting.