Saint Teresa of Avila -Original Watercolor Painting
Carmelite Name: St. Teresa of Jesus
A Year of Saints: Created as part of the A Year of Saints Collection. Learn more about this collection and the outlook that shaped my process HERE.
Details: An original painting, unframed, 6x7.5 inches, pencil outline layered in high quality watercolor pigments on cold-pressed (textured) paper. Artist's signature is clearly visible in fine-tipped brown art pen.
Watercolor paintings develop layer by layer until the portrait comes into focus — glowing and intricate. This particular palette is warm and muted, as Carmelite habits are brown, black, and golden.
This piece represents St. Teresa of Avila, the first female Doctor of the Church and a champion of the Carmelite order, in a simple but powerful rendering.
Inspiration: In all honesty, this painting was simply inspired by a beautiful statue I discovered in the old San Juan Capistrano Mission here in Southern California. I loved her upward gaze, pen in one hand and book in the other. To me, her pose seemed unique for a female saint; she is strong, shoulders back, a prolific writer and reformer of her order. She was a great influence on two other incredible saint who took her name: Sts. Teresa of Calcutta and Therese of Lisiuex.
In an age when female saints were often portrayed as meek and gentle (both aimiable traits) St. Theresa gives us an example of an intelligent, joyful, boisterous woman whose eyes were always fixed on God.
Framing: I imagine this painting matted or floating over a mat in a neutral white or cream color to really showcase the portrait. The simplicity of the framing would reflect the simplicity of the painting. I'd set it in a frame that complements the color palette of your home’s aesthetic, ideally in a light-colored wood or simple, thin metalic.
More information on how to best preserve and frame your artwork will be included in your shippment. Please feel free to email me at rosalie.ardentdraws@gmail.com with any other questions!
