Watercolor Artist

Anyone who has ever lived with a family pet, or simply been well acquainted with a dog or cat, knows that they possess plenty of character and that—just like people—each pet's personality is unique. For artists who regularly choose animals as a subject, capturing that spirit is often primary to their creative efforts. For example, John Keeling (page 56), who specializes in commissioned pet portraits, always meets a subject “in person,” if possible. Even if the encounter is brief, he comes away with valuable information. When a pet is deceased and the only option is a client's photo, Keeling asks questions that provide insight into the pet's personality and individual quirks. Knowing whether an animal was affectionate, protective, fussy or fearless “helps inform my work in subtle yet important ways,”…

FabrianoInAcquarello, one of the biggest international events for watercolorists, is a gathering of artists, organizations, art materials manufacturers and any other individual or entity associated with watercolor—all eager to share their collective knowledge. This year's events—including demonstrations, workshops, plein air “holidays” and an international exhibition—took place in Bologna and Fabriano, Italy, from May 12 to 20. Watercolorist Laurin McCracken, the event's 2022 Country Leader for the United States, was our reporter-on-the-ground. Watercolor Artist (WA): Tell us a little about the background of this event. Laurin McCrackin (LM): This was the 11th year of the event, which is generally referred to as “Fabriano.” Acquarello is the Italian word for “watercolor.” Fabriano is the name of the town where the event originated—and where manufactured paper was introduced to Europe in 1264. Due to…

The Best of Watercolor: Splash 23 [$14.99] The much-anticipated latest edition of the annual Best of Watercolor magazine is here, featuring the winning entries in the Splash 23 Watercolor Competition. Included are 112 top-of-the-line contemporary watermedia artworks with comments about methods, materials and inspiration by their creators. As juror of Awards Mary Whyte says, each painting selected “provides ample proof that the very best watercolors are not only astonishing in their execution but appeal to the heart as well.” Sneak a peak at a few of these works at artistsnetwork.com/go/pandemic-paintings. ARTISTSNETWORK.COM Contemporary Color Theory: Watercolor Flowers [$22,99] Learning about color theory and color mixing is a lot more appealing when you can put your knowledge to immediate use. Author and illustrator Manushree Mishra covers all the basics and follows up with seven step-bystep projects,…

On Watercolor… “How to approach those unexpected changes that inevitably happen in the process of watercolor painting? Let me quote the master Sheng-Yen: ‘Accept it, handle it, and let go of it.'” “Watercolor painting is fun because it's hard!” On Beauty… “Create beauty from your daily life. Look critically at common things and ordinary scenery to discover beauty. There, you'll also find creativity.” “The ability to discover beauty is decided by your aesthetic cultivation more than by cameras and sketchbooks, and your ability to create beauty is decided by your practical painting experience, not the particular brush you hold in your hand.” “What motivates you and me to create art? The answer is beauty! To discover, pursue and create beauty, follow your heart.” On Technique… “I don't care much about what my subject is, or what I see…

The secret to Paul Evans' approach to color lies in “looseness”—using free gestures and a measure of chance to build up an image. In his landscape River Stour Reflections (opposite), watercolor combines with ink to convey the luscious riverbank vegetation and the water's glossy surface over weeds growing in the shallows. Looking closer reveals that the mass of leaves and the rippled, languid river are composed of a dizzying range of mark-making techniques. Relatively few of the image's details are painted with precision brushwork. Instead, tree leaves are dabbed on with a dry or wet brush; at some point, around the outer edges of the sheet, the wet dabs turn into droplets as the “leaves” are simply spattered on. In the foreground, wild white blossoms are depicted via a spray of…

Simply put, Judy Nunno's recent series of paintings, “Candy,” is the epitome of visual indulgence—designed to sweeten anyone's art-craving palate. To an extent, these eye-catching works are an offshoot of Nunno's long-running paintings of crystals and edibles—a playfully inspired series in which crystal figurines are combined whimsically with food items, as seen in Dragon Fruit (opposite). At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, Nunno felt the urge to reinvigorate her art and challenge herself anew. Painting often complex arrangements of brightly colored candy in transparent, reflective containers and wrappers was, for her, just the way to do it. The artist's pictorial “candy fix” is addicting—irresistibly eliciting smiles and accolades. “Many people turned to sweets for comfort and a lift of spirits during the pandemic. I'm no exception, except that I…