Holy Family of the Springs
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Process

Drawing

Once she has established the major elements to be included in the image, she creates a highly detailed drawing on watercolor paper. Friends and family members serve as models so that each figure has personality and a "soul". The figures, faces, source of light and intensity of shadows are all worked out carefully in this stage, which takes several weeks. The final drawing is photographed, and then watercolor is painted directly onto the drawing.

Background

The foreground figures are carefully masked so the background can be painted first. Watercolor is a medium which is uniquely able to represent light. Light bounces through the pigments, onto the underlying paper and back to the viewer’s eye. The artist never uses black, relying on rich combinations of jewel tones for the deepest shadows. Many of the watercolor pigments are made from finely ground precious gemstones or natural materials, such as clay, stone or vegetation.

Final painting

After the background is completely dry the mask is carefully removed from the foreground figures and they are fully developed in color. Paintings usually take months to complete. Nearly all of our originals are created on 30 x 22 in Arches 300 lb 100% cotton rag made in France.
Striving for rich color and visual texture, Margaret’s work aims to present the beauty in the everyday human experiences of Christ and those close to Him.