Rouge

#132

aquarelle

Carole Villeneuve

February 2014

Unframed

10" x 8"

Archival Watercolor Canvas Board

What is red? Passion? Courage? Danger? Beauty? Determination? Anger?   

Red is all that and more.This bamboo was painted primarily in two reds (Alizarin Crimson and Dragons Blood) and one blue (Prussian Blue). This painting, started out red, but soon became softened with blue, reminiscent of an accidental discovery years ago by the colour maker Diesbach.  Perhaps an accidental discovery that couldn't have been more beautiful if it were planned.  Diesbach, working in Berlin in the early 1700's, was trying to make particular strong red, when he created a deep blue that we now know as Prussian Blue.

The creation of this blue, the first modern, synthetic colour was completely accidental.

This bamboo began as a journey towards an expression of passion through the use of  red. 

That very same Prussian Blue, developed accidentally, was the catalyst that 

changed the passion of red to quiet determination.

We must never be afraid to try something new. 

Often the results lead us to beautiful new discoveries.

Wakefield Covered Bridge

$150

#131

Watercolour

Carole Villeneuve

February 2014

22" x 19"

 The Wakefield Covered bridge (Wakefield, Quebec), now a historical attraction, was originally built in 1915, but was destroyed by fire in 1984.  The bright reflections in the water not only represent the restored bridge's fresh coat of paint but are reminiscent of the power of the flames that destroyed it. This covered bridge was one of the first bridges to link the two shores of the Gatineau River. The restoration of the bridge was completed in 1998 through community effort.  

Bridges are links that help to bring people together.  As the Olympic Games begin today in Sochi, Russia, let us hope that new bridges will be built to strengthen the dream of peace in the world.