Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2024 i Watercolor Artist

For many artists, the real success of a piece is measured by how well it captures the “spirit” of the subject—the marvelous, ineffable quality that takes a work of art beyond imitation and exactitude and into the realm of art. For many portrait artists, the goal is to go beyond mere likeness to portray a person's character or mood, and for many painters of landscape or urban scenery, the object is to capture a “sense of place.” That can mean a lot of things to different people, but essentially, it's about conveying not only what can be seen in the view before us, but also what can be felt. The Dedham Vale, an area of land in eastern England, is commonly referred to as “Constable Country” thanks to the landscape…

A celebrated member of the French Impressionists, Pennsylvaniaborn Mary Cassatt (1844–1926) challenged the conventional expectations of Philadelphia's elite. In Paris, Cassatt committed herself to a career as an artist and made the social, intellectual and working lives of modern, 19th-century women a core subject of her paintings. Though recognized in her lifetime for her intimate depictions of women and children, Cassatt has yet to be appreciated for her serious engagement with the realities of gender and labor in her portrayal of other traditionally feminine activities, such as embroidery and making social appearances. These depictions lie at the heart of “Mary Cassatt at Work,” which showcases more than 130 diverse works that follow the artist's evolving practice and demonstrate her interest in the “serious work” of art-making. The exhibition presents new…

Jeff Steiner (steinerwatercolors.com) was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Minneapolis. After earning a B.S. in architecture from the University of Minnesota, he enjoyed a successful career as an architect for several decades. His interest in painting grew steadily over the years and, in his late 50s, he left architecture to pursue painting full time. Steiner studied in workshops with Alvaro Castagnet and made a close study of the work of Joseph Zbukvic through the artist's DVDs. An avid participant in plein air competitions, he has also absorbed a great deal of knowledge from fellow artists at these events. His work is represented by Seasons Gallery, in Hudson, Wisc., and The District Gallery, in Knoxville, Tenn.…

Stewart White (stewartwhitestudios.com) is an architectural illustrator, designer and award-winning watercolorist based in Baltimore. The artist exhibits his paintings in juried and gallery shows throughout the United States. White is the past president of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Association and an Executive Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists. He's a member of the American Impressionist Society, and a Signature Member of the National Watercolor Society and the American Watercolor Society.…

Herron favors Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton tube paints. He keeps a fine-point ink pen handy for certain effects but notes that he doesn't use any pencil, often sketching with an ink nib instead. His workhorse brushes include 1-inch and 1½-inch flats and Nos. 6, 10 and 14 rounds. A spray bottle is integral to all of the artist's work since he makes use of various types of salt and sand to achieve unusual textures. Nearly every painting also gets hit with a razor blade or sandpaper. “Sometimes I'll even use an ice pick, kabob skewer or jackknife,” says Herron. “Anything goes!”…

Traveling with a sketchbook is, quite simply, how I navigate the world. My sketch kit is always at hand, whether I'm going about my daily life, on a day trip close to home or on a far-flung adventure. Besides the fact that I love the immediacy of an in-situ sketch, there's so much more that travel sketching has brought to how I experience the world. Sketching cues me to slow down and observe things more carefully. And, it helps me remember and recall experiences in a more vivid and meaningful way through the best mementos—pages filled with memories to revisit whenever I want. Recently, while browsing through my latest sketchbooks, I was intrigued to discover something I hadn't noticed before—recurring themes that have unfolded over time. Regardless of the global…

Artist's Toolkit SURFACE • Arches 156-lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper DANIEL SMITH WATERCOLORS • Bismuth Vanadate yellow, Bordeaux, Payne's bluegray, quinacridone burnt orange, quinacridone purple, quinacridone magenta, quinacridone gold, pyrrol orange, pyrrol red, phthalo green (blue shade), sap green, opera pink, 50-50 indigo-sepia mixture (the darkest dark) BRUSHES • 1-inch flat, Nos. 2 and 4 rounds, scrubber OTHER • Holbein masking fluid, white, acid-free artist's tape, paper towels, chambered water bucket, corrugated plastic board, ruling pen (or other masking applicator) Step 1 All of my paintings begin with a photo shoot. I enjoy the planning and design stage almost as much as the actual painting stage. The design process is 95 percent complete before I ever put brush to paper. I use my phone to take reference shots, then view them…

“. . . no one in this modern school, and perhaps even before, has possessed that lightness of touch which, especially in watercolours, makes his works a type of diamond which flatters and ravishes the eye, independently of any subject and any limitation.” —Eugène Delacroix, writing about fellow artist and friend, Richard Parkes Bonington, in 1861 Richard Parkes Bonington (1802-28) was born in England and moved to France with his family in 1817. He studied painting while in Paris and met Delacroix when both were making copies in the Louvre. While Delacroix soon became the standard-bearer of French Romantic painting, Bonington spent his few adult years producing exquisitely drawn, luminous interpretations of the landscape in France, England and Italy. He made architectural illustrations, enjoyed rapid recognition at the Paris Salon…

Artist's Toolkit SURFACE • 15x11-inch Bockingford Quarter imperial coldpressed paper WATERCOLORS • quinacridone gold, pyrrole orange, cadmium red, perylene maroon, sap green, phthalo blue, indigo BRUSHES • No. 10 round with a good point; large brush for background wash; small flat for lifting color OTHER • 0.4mm waterproof fineliner pen, HB pencil Step 1: Toning Toning the paper before beginning a portrait establishes a sense of cohesiveness and depth—akin to a toned underpainting in an oil portrait—that works well for realistic hues or a non-local color palette. I choose a cool blue to complement my reference photo and set the mood. TIP: Mix more wash than you think you'll need. The secret to a streak-free flat wash is to have a bead of liquid at the bottom of each horizontal…

Since it's impossible to take everything you might possibly need when painting outdoors, the aim must be to take the minimum that still enables you to work. Most outdoor painters, myself included, prefer to carry no more gear than will fit into a backpack. A backpack-sized kit can still be heavy, but I find it allows for the greatest flexibility in the field. The alternative is a pull-along trolley, which works well on a smooth surface, but won't allow for wandering down a gravel path or a muddy towpath, over a fence or down a riverbank. Given the weight, make sure to start out with the right bag. My preference is the kind used by anglers. Although the bags aren't ideal for hiking long distances, they can be set down…

1 Get in the habit of sketching long before you ever pack your bag. Start by sketching locally— and regularly. Think of your home practice as an ongoing warm-up session. It's so much easier to sketch on the road when you've already developed the habit at home. 2 Challenge yourself to pack the smallest, but mightiest, sketching kit possible. My basic travel sketch kit includes a compact watercolor palette, travel brushes, water container, sketchbook and a pen. And, if I'm being completely transparent, a stray handful of water-soluble pencils or crayons usually finds its way into my bag because I just can't resist adding pops of color to my sketches. How little can you get by with and still feel prepared? 3 Reframe your approach and perspective. Where and when…

WORKSHOPS Susan Kuznitsky, PSA-MP, IAPS-MP, NWPS, PSWC, CPP, PAO September 7–17, 2024, Northern Italy September 23–October 3, 2024, Greek Islands of Kos and Patmos November 1–3, 2024, Medford, Oregon June 15–20, 2025, Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin, Dillman's Art Retreat Spring 2025 - Provence (dates TBD) Details at www.susankuznitsky or email me at sjkartclass@gmail.com Lynn Pratt Online School Let's Paint with Lynn Pratt Online School Join Lynn D. Pratt in her Online School with over 135 full watercolor tutorials available instantly. Lynn breaks down how to paint in a photorealistic style into simple steps that you can easily follow to make your paintings more successful. New tutorials are posted each month complete with a line drawing, reference photo, color chart and materials list you can download. Also included are dozens of…

Creative Abstract Watercolor [$24.99] Learn how to create dynamic, original abstract art using watercolor paints and a few pens. In this step-by-step book, you'll discover watercolor techniques, tips and tricks to help form your composition and inspire further mixed-media embellishment. Author Kate Rebecca Leach, of Essoldo Design, has amassed a dedicated following online for her abstract artworks. In her debut book, she shares a variety of projects that include simple shapes, abstract botanicals and expressive landscapes, along with a variety of ideas for combining color, texture and contrast to make your abstract pieces shine. Painting Portraits in Watercolour [$19.99] This joyful book by Berkshire, England-based artist Liz Chaderton (see The Perfect Pair, page 12) will give you the confidence and skills to paint lively faces and characters. Her unique approach…

A good location for plein air painting is one that not only offers a great scene, but also favorable conditions on a micro scale, by which I mean the immediate bit of ground you're proposing to stand on. Is it too soft? Is it wet (an important consideration if you'd like your bag to stay dry)? Is it level? Sloping ground can be tiring to stand on, though sometimes you'll be prepared to accept this. What about shelter from the wind? Is there a bit of low wall or a bush behind which you can set the easel for a bit of protection? If not, is there something handy to which you can tie the easel? Gusty wind can be your worst enemy in the field and has a bearing…

Daud Akhriev (daudakhriev.com) was born in the former Soviet Union in 1959. He earned a master's degree from the prestigious Russian Academy of Fine Art (now the Repin Institute), in St. Petersburg. In 1991, he emigrated to the United States and later became a citizen. He works in watercolor, pastel and oil. In addition to paintings, he has created murals, mosaics, bronzes and other public art. His work has been published in numerous books and magazines and has won awards from the Oil Painters of America, among other organizations. His wife, Melissa Hefferlin, and their son, Timur Akhriev, are also artists. The work of all three is celebrated in a new book, Parallel Journeys (Cutter & Cutter, 2024) which includes an essay by the author Ann Patchett.…

How can I make my art more impactful in order to better catch a viewer's attention? It's a question my students ask me more often than any other. I'm always thrilled to address this topic. Th ere are many principles, or rules, of design that I cover in my art classes—and a basic understanding of those principles is essential to compositional success. I understand, however, that it can often be difficult to decide exactly which design rules to follow, when to follow them and when it's OK to break them. The rule of odds is one design principle I always try to follow. The rule suggests that a composition is more effective when it has an odd number of objects or elements. It can be applied to any form of…