Hand Painted Pots

Although it is clear that all of the teapots below are the same image, it is intriguing to compare and contrast the differences based on the addition of color.  The top one is very basic and almost appears to be a watercolor painting.  The darker teal colors in the shadowed contours of the pot are subtle, but somewhat effective in helping create some depth and volume.

Teapot #1 - color variation #1 - Daniel Smith relief ink on 400 series Strathmore printmaker paper.  Color added with FW acrylic inks, hand painted.

Although no color has been added to the teapot below as an overall color, the swirl pattern warms it up and suggests it has an overall color.  I originally thought about carving these swirls into the block, but did not want to be locked in to the same swirls each time AND that would mean that unless I carved a second block for the swirls, like I had done for the tea leaves in the solo teabag, that the shadow lines, contour lines AND swirls would all be the same color as the line elements defining the teapot - not appealing!

By adding swirls in one color and a total, overall color to the entire pot,
(as in the second picture below, ) the teapot takes on a warm glow.  Perhaps this version is more reminiscent of the first Yixing pots made of red clay, or their ancestors that were made of clay, but decorated for emperors to brew their tea soup.

Teapot #1 - color variation #2 - Daniel Smith relief ink and FW acrylic ink, hand swirled, printed and painted on 400 series Strathmore printmaker paper.    

                                                                                                                                                     
If you are into the new rage in adult coloring book options, you can see how the ability to make multiple original prints and add different colors to each is so appealing!  

Happy New Year - Here's to you with a nice, hot cup of tea!!!