The basis for “Roy G. Biv’s Sheep” actually came from sketching sheep and irrigation systems on location in Douglas County, Oregon. My concept was that viewing the sheep through the irrigation system could make the sheep appear in rainbow colors. Hence, Roy G. Biv is the acronym for red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet that all young art students memorize.

The foreground of this interpretive piece needed excitement, too, so I invented a croquet game. Perhaps the participants dashed off when the sprinkler came on. Part of the irrigation system is accurately rendered and the other part makes an impossible arch of water to form a wicket for passing the croquet ball through. The sheep serve as additional wickets and silver marker is added to emphasize this. I used an experimental technique to create grass that was not boring or repetitive. The mallet was painted realistically and I created a cardboard model in order to paint believable shadows.

My goal with interpretive watercolors is to blend my years of training in abstract design, with my years of experience in creating traditional watercolors to create imaginary pieces with believable elements.

“Roy G. Biv’s Sheep” was my second piece accepted into the Watercolor Society of Oregon Shows—this one in the Spring of 2002. The guest juror was Pat Dews AWS, NWS, who looks for strong design, color and content. The reception was held at the Belinki and Duprey Art Gallery in Portland, Oregon. All the pieces in the exhibition have been published in a color show booklet.

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