By the CACB Gallery Team
Intro: Each month, the Gallery Team at the Creative Arts Center, Bonham (CACB) will feature art from that month’s showing. For artists, we’ll focus on a few techniques that you can consider for your own development. For art appreciators, we’ll point out techniques that will expand your art awareness.
Featured Piece: “Girl in the Rain”
Stroll along as we look into the charming painting, “Girl in the Rain” by CACB member Cynthia Green. The scene features a young girl in a yellow raincoat and bright red boots, happily walking through the rain under her matching yellow umbrella. Let’s see how the artist used specific watercolor techniques to create an emotional response.
Techniques of Note
Watercolor Transparency Techniques: Look closely at how the artist handled the background. See those varying blue washes? That’s the beauty of watercolor transparency at work! The artist allowed the blue to flow naturally in some areas while controlling it in others. To try this yourself, experiment with different water-to-pigment ratios* on practice paper before applying to your final piece.
Linework Foundations: Sketch lines can be left in or erased, depending upon the look you want to achieve.
Leave in: First, it’s a stylistic choice: This approach aligns with certain illustration traditions, particularly in children’s book art, where the combination of line and color creates an approachable, slightly unpolished charm. Visible pencil lines will have an authenticity of process; they reveal how the artist constructed the image before applying color. They also offer textural contrast: hard, precise pencil lines create a deliberate contrast with the soft, flowing quality of watercolors and can add visual interest and complexity to a composition.
Erase: Alternatively, fully erasing pencil lines would offer different artistic advantages. A more traditional watercolor approach often emphasizes the medium’s inherent properties of transparency and flow without the distraction of underlying lines. Viewers might focus more on your color relationships. And, without pencil lines, a composition might have a more dreamy quality rather than definite forms.
If you are feeling timid about starting a watercolor at all and aren’t ready to go full free form on your subject, start with a light sketch and paint that in. Later, decide if you want to erase those lines or emphasize them. Just make sure you use a clean [gum] eraser that won’t leave residue on the watercolor or tear the paper!
The Power of Color Choices
Color Theory in Action: Notice how Cynthia uses a classic complementary color* relationship — the bright yellow against the blue background makes both colors appear more vibrant. The addition of those striking red boots creates a triangular color relationship that guides your eye through the composition. Next time you’re working with watercolors, try limiting yourself to three strong colors to create a similar visual impact.
From Canvas to Conversation
While techniques and color theory help us understand the “how” behind Cynthia’s charming rainy day scene, there’s always more to a painting than meets the eye. What inspired these choices? What memories or emotions guided the artist’s hand? To discover the story behind “Girl in the Rain,” we sat down with Cynthia after the “Natural” showing at CACB to learn more about her creative process and personal connection to this delightful piece.
CACB: First of all, Cynthia, I just want to say how much I enjoy your painting! There’s something about that little girl in the rain that just makes me smile every time I see it.
Cynthia: Thank you so much! I actually was struggling with what to paint, and Jaye [our program coordinator] helped me by printing an image of the Morton Salt girl. That became my inspiration.
CACB: Artists often talk about finding the balance between inspiration and originality. How did you approach that balance when creating this particular painting?
Cynthia: I changed her hair and a few other elements to make it my own picture. I felt it would’ve been cheating if I didn’t make any changes, so I put my personal touch on it. I made her hair more whimsical too, with a bob haircut and bangs instead of the hat that was in the original image. I tried to make her eyes green, and I wanted her face to look cute, to let her goodness shine through.
CACB: Tell me about your color choices. Was it a conscious decision to use those specific yellow and blue colors together, or did it just feel right to you?
Cynthia: You know, I wish I could say I was thinking about color theory, but honestly, I just went with what felt right in the moment. Yellow raincoats are so cheerful against rainy blue skies! I remember those yellow raincoats from when I was little — they just make you happy even when it’s pouring. Sometimes the simplest choices work out to be the best ones.
CACB: Speaking of color, those red boots really catch my eye! Those are classic, red kid boots! Was there a special reason you chose red for the boots?
Cynthia: I kept the boots red because it’s such a fun color. The whole painting is about having fun! My mom used to let us walk in the rain when I was a kid, so this helped me relive those good childhood memories.
CACB: I’m curious — do you usually paint children, or do you work with other subjects too?
Cynthia: Actually, this is my first time painting a child. I hadn’t really thought about it before this project.
CACB: The little girl in your painting looks so happy, even though it’s raining. Do you think art should generally make people feel good, or is there value in art that makes us feel other emotions too?
Cynthia: I believe art should make you think and feel, but it doesn’t necessarily have to make you feel happy. With this particular picture, I was fortunate to connect with a good memory, which made the process joyful for me.
CACB: This might sound silly, but did you ever splash in puddles yourself as a kid? I’m wondering if this painting comes from your own memories.
Cynthia: Yes, I splashed in lots of puddles, every chance I could get! I didn’t even have to be all covered up like she is. Walking in the rain is such a freeing experience — it washes away turmoil.
CACB: Many people have yet to try watercolor — it can seem really challenging. What would you say to someone who might want to try painting with this medium for the first time?
Cynthia: Don’t have your expectations too high. Watercolor is a different medium with its own personality. I’d suggest wetting the paper first, then having the freedom to let the paint do what it wants to do. You can feel it with the paper and the water — let the water flow. At first, I didn’t like watercolor, but then I discovered I love how the paint responds with the canvas, and how I can interact with it. For instance, I love to touch the art. I dabbed the paint with tissues and let the water move around. I’m very tactile with all of my artwork.
CACB: I noticed your painting is pretty small and intimate. Do you prefer working in this size, or do you sometimes create larger pieces?
Cynthia: I have done larger pieces, but I think for this particular subject, small was adequate. It just kind of happened that way.
CACB: What’s next for you? Are you working on anything new that we might see at the CACB in the future?
Cynthia: Yes, I have plans for a series of cat paintings. I might start with watercolor for those. I also love trees and leaves — hills, trees, sky and trees, or water. I just want my art to flow naturally.
Expand Your Art Skills, Entertain Your Art Love
If you would like to expand your art skills — from just starting out to honing a developed technique — enroll in one of our many affordable classes led by experienced local artists. And while you can appreciate the art any time the center is open, you can actually meet the arts and learn about their recent works at our monthly receptions. When you attend these no-cost, drop-in receptions, you not only encourage our featured artists but also play a vital role in nurturing Bonham’s growing arts scene.
* Art Terms Explained
Complementary Colors: Colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel (like blue and orange, red and green, or yellow and purple). When placed side by side, complementary colors create maximum contrast and make each other appear more vibrant and intense.
Water-to-Pigment Ratio: The amount of water mixed with watercolor paint, which determines how transparent or opaque your color will appear. More water creates lighter, more transparent washes; less water creates stronger, more intense color. This relationship is what gives watercolor its characteristic luminous quality.
Cynthia Green is a long-time resident of Bonham, Texas and an avid supporter of the CACB. When she isn’t volunteering at the many functions, she takes classes to expand her art skills.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
