Note: I mistakenly entitled this post, “Gilroy the Observer”, originally. Thanks to Liz Barrett for setting me straight. The real name for this character was Kilroy. I can only attribute my error to the fact that I live next to the Garlic Capital of the World, Gilroy, California. A natural mistake when one gets to my age. Apologies, and thanks for your indulgence.

Today’s watercolor experiment:

I used a straight edge and compass to start today’s composition. I drew two partial circles to create an ‘S’ shape, and a small circle on the upper right portion of the paper. I did not know where it would lead until I thought of drawing a ‘V’ shape, which I did, with lines tangent to the small circle. Later I completed the contours of the circles.

During World War II, a popular piece of graffiti was ‘Kilroy was here’, together with a partial view of a face, which seemed to be looking over a fence. I understand this to be a way to bear witness. This is the sense in which I used this figure in the composition below.

I used the ‘V’ as a design element. Everything outside the cone of the ‘V’, I painted in dark tones. Within the outline of the ‘V’ I painted bright colors, as if it were a shaft of light.  Kilroy is looking in from the darkness as an observer, to bear witness about what he sees.

Gilroy Was Here
12″x16″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block

Perhaps Kilroy should look around him… But that’s another story.