Penny Ross
Penny creates artwork in many mediums
Watercolors
In 1955, I won a scholarship to attend the Cincinnati Art Academy’s adult summer school. I was 14. That summer, I loved my daily watercolor class in the neighborhood of Eden Park. En plein air is still my first choice. Each winter, I am eager for the weather to become warm so I can get out and paint. My best work is created in the city and country landscape. My ideas come from responding to what I see. I sit before the subject and begin to paint when the view before me cannot be contained any longer. I like watercolor because the medium is direct, quick, and spontaneous, I like the transparency and brilliance of Watercolors.
Pastels
In 2010, I changed my medium from watercolor to pastel for awhile. Another medium helped me to see the same Pocono landscape in a new way. In 2016 I began using sanded paper. This paper makes possible many more layers of pastel than watercolor or drawing papers do. I worked with darks, blocking in the composition and later added the lights. I work the reverse in watercolors, going from light to dark. Drawing on the sanded paper, everything can be wiped out and I can begin again if it is not working. Pastels can be blended and layered. Gestures, lines, scribbles are expressive and energetic and express my love of drawing.
Wax Crayons
Stockmar wax crayons are made in Germany of pure beeswax and all natural-pigments. The chunky shape makes marks that are rich, intense, and bold color that glows.They can be layered and then etched or scraped through to the color underneath. It is easy to make a mark that is significant. The crayons have blunt, blurred, soft edges that define shape with less detail; Crayons have a limited palette with colors made by layering. The crayon responds differently with a smooth or a rough surface or a hard or a soft paper, or a fine or a course textured paper. The texture of the paper effects how the crayon goes on.
Markers
Copic markers are made in Japan. They are permanent and non-toxic alcohol based markers. I began using them in the Spring of 2018. These markers make a bold line that is easy to see. Besides the point, they also have a broad wedge that fills in areas of the drawing. They come in 358 colors. The colors are strong, rich, brilliant as well as soft and light. They can be layered also. I use them on 140 pound acid free watercolor paper, usually hot press to avoid a paper texture. I prefer texture to come from the drawing. However, the image is built on making marks. I love the process that shows the mark making.