Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2026 i Watercolor Artist

Venice became an enormously popular destination for travelers in the latter half of the 19th century. Drawn by its art, history and precarious placement on the Adriatic Sea, artists flocked there from across Europe and the United States. In this respect, John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) was no exception. What was exceptional was the longevity of his interest. Born in Florence to expatriate American parents, Sargent first visited Venice in 1870, and returned frequently over the course of 40 years. Though he painted from Florence to Capri to the Italian Alps, Venice had a special hold on his imagination. “Venice,” wrote art historian Bruce Robertson, “had perhaps the largest share of Sargent's attention.” Sargent avoided painting standard postcard fare of tourist attractions, preferring to focus on architectural details and unusual compositions.…

Steve Walters is fascinated by faraway places. His interest might have been sparked by the National Geographic magazines he read years ago. It was likely influenced by several social anthropology classes he took in college. It most definitely got a boost when he took workshops from Milford Zornes (1908–2008) and when he saw an inspiring retrospective of work by Donald Teague (1897–1991), two California artists known for masterful portrayals of foreign scenes. “Foreign places inspire me with new colors, textures, clothing, cultures, languages, customs, history and ideas,” Walters says. He has traveled with his wife—fellow watercolorist Barbara Kempe (featured in the Fall 2025 issue of Watercolor Artist)—to a number of European countries, including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and the Czech Republic. No place has captured his artistic eye quite like…

An important aspect of watercolor painting, one that doesn't get discussed enough, is how to make the most of the white of the paper. One of the advantages of working in this medium is its luminosity—much of which comes when the white paper is visible through transparent layers, or when white spaces are left in the painting. Various techniques can be employed to make use of the paper white, but knowing which methods to use—and when to use them—is the key to creating luminous watercolors. There are several techniques I heavily rely on when it comes to using the white of the paper to enhance my paintings. DESIGNING WITH WHITE The most common and effective method for using the white of the paper to achieve luminosity is to consider white…

It's easy to imagine the looming shadows cast by a combine harvester abandoned to nature's persistent forces and the gradual blooming of orange rust on the metal. What requires an artist's eye of observation, though, are the tiny shadows cast by the rust itself—and the way that capturing those intricate textures with paint will bring the broken-down objects back to life, albeit with an altogether new kind of utility and beauty. Michael Holter has just such an eye. “If I find an old machinery graveyard,” he says, “I'm going to be all over it— trying to find angles, looking for light and shadow, and seeing how the light plays across the mechanical things. I really am all about light and shadows.” Given his sharp eye for a particular type of…

Taking high-quality photographs of my paintings for juried exhibitions was always a huge challenge. After many years of trial and error, great expense, and much aggravation and angst, however, I finally devised a simple solution to this problem. If you're intimidated by the more technical aspects of photographing artwork, this method offers an easy way to proceed. By removing the barriers between creating and documenting your work, you can focus energy where it belongs—on making art. Follow along as I walk you through my photo prep method. THE DISCOVERY In the past, I used to take dozens of photos of my works outdoors on a sunny day with my digital camera, or, sometimes, I'd hire a photography service. Everything changed, though, when I upgraded to a smartphone with advanced camera…

/ STUDIO STAPLES / Michael Harding Watercolours After decades of perfecting oil paints, Michael Harding has expanded into watercolors, offering 136 meticulously ground pigments that dazzle with their vibrancy and longevity. Each color is rich in history and craftsmanship, providing unparalleled depth and clarity. Whether you're exploring delicate washes or bold strokes, these watercolors promise to elevate your artistry. Dive into a palette where each hue tells a story, making your watercolor art not just a creation but a masterpiece. / ON THE SHELVES / The Big Book of Watercolour by Hazel Soan[Batsford; 304 pages; $29.95] Hazel Soan is a highly successful artist, a sought-after painting instructor and the author of several books that have introduced the wonders of painting to a new generation of artists. In The Big Book…

The winter paintings of Polish watercolorist Michał Jasiewicz are understated, poetic expressions of a luminous landscape that also capture a sense of nostalgia. “I absolutely love snow,” he says. “I find in the subject a silence and purity, and memories from childhood.” Behind these dreamlike landscapes lies a practical sensibility as well as deliberate, if sometimes unorthodox, choices about technique, tools and materials. While Jasiewicz is firmly committed to painting in watercolor, he's willing to break away from some of the time-honored traditions. Although he appreciates drawing from nature and the experience of painting outdoors, he often works in the studio, using his own photos collected during travels both near and far. The studio work is usually done in the evenings and into the night, using artificial light. And he…

Step 1 A careful line drawing is the best foundation for a painting with lots of detail. I projected the image onto a vertical board holding the paper and drew using a medium-hard pencil. Step 2 I almost always begin with a wet-into-wet underpainting, laying down some of the local color. That way, even if I never touch the lightest area again, it still carries a hint of the color found there. Step 3 I then shifted to the middle and darker values, letting the colors flow naturally into one another. Step 4 I carefully masked the entire iron wheel with tape, which I cut precisely using an X-acto knife. To achieve the rusty texture, I used a toothbrush and other tools to spatter the paint. Step 5 I applied…

As my art career was launching, I discovered the artist-in-residence programs at many national parks. For years I pursued these opportunities, hiking hundreds of miles, educating myself, making friends with park rangers and building a large body of work. Then, one day, it dawned on me that the landscapes near my home are beautiful, too. Why wasn't I investing in them in the same way? So I decided to do that. I live in Idaho, five blocks from Lake Coeur d'Alene, which is fed by two stunning rivers with very different personalities. The North Fork Coeur d'Alene River is close enough that I can travel there as a day trip. One spot that I keep coming back to is the confluence of the North Fork with Yellow Dog Creek. In…