Tuesday 8 May 2018

Watercolor Artist

This bi-monthly American magazine recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary. It was originally launched under the name  'Watercolor Magic'. This is one of only two magazines devoted to watercolour. The other is the glossy and expensive 'The Art of Watercolour'.  I have written before about this latter one and have nothing to add. This is not to say 'Watercolor Artist'  is cheap. It isn't for us UK artists due to the premium we have to pay. With the magazine is a small pre-paid card, obviously intended for American readers but it does say for International orders add $10. This still makes it quite a bit less than  the £17.71p, which includes postage, we pay for three issues. In the UK I subscribe to it through Newstand via the internet.  I did have it  for a few months in 2014 but for some reason didn't continue. IF UK artists purchase direct the cost is $47.97 for two years, including the extra $10 for International purchases. This shows a substantial saving. I am tempted to try. 



I subscribed to 'The Artist' magazine for some years. Previously I also bought 'Leisure Painter' from the same publisher. 'Leisure painter' is aimed at the beginner and intermediate artist. Recently I decided to discontinue 'The Artist' as I have found less and less of interest, as it covers all media. My feeling about it was that it was mainly repeating itself year after year, and the rich World of watercolour outside the UK barely if ever features, I know this is partly a language problem but even Continental watercolour artists, many of whom ate fluent in English, don't get a mention. 

The latest issue of Watercolour Artist has 72 pages and features several artists, most of whom are new to me, but this isn't always the case with top artists  like Bez Jozwiak, Fealing Lin and Ted Nuttall featured in other issues. Topics include painting Earth, Sea and Sky, Flowers, and the 9th Annual Watermedia Showcase.

Is it worth buying? Obviously yes for American watercolour artists. In the UK the price is high but on balance I think, if you are a watercolour enthusiast, just about unless price is an issue.

Saturday 5 May 2018

My Most Recent Work

Here are my latest efforts. I don't post them as good work, just what I've been getting up to lately. I have mixed feelings about much of my recent work, possibly  (another) bout of self-doubt but I'll keep trying! I have scrapped a couple as well.



A Female Goldcrest
 - Approx. 9" x 12"


 2nd Attempt at the Goldcrest as I felt I overworked the first.



This was an attempt at an abstract portrait with glances towards Agnes- Cecille's work.  16" x 12"



Goldfinch - approx. 9" x 12" I like this one. It's more towards where I want to be (with acknowledgement to Gerard Hendriks)



A Dipper. 9" x 12" mixed feelings about this one.




This was an AVA Thursday subject "Summer Landscape" 20" x 14" Lanaquarelle Not



A Blackfoot Indian - 16" x 12" 



Another AVA subject - " Seed x Heads" 16" x 12"




Second Attempt at this one 16" x 12". It was an AVA subject , something to do with Flowers.



Tuesday 1 May 2018

Watercolour Paintings 42

Here are the latest batch for May.



Robert Wade by Cheng Chung Wei - Inspired by Charles Reids style - so says the caption. Love the painting.



Judith Farnsworth



Viktoria Prischedko

Viktoria has her first UK workshop at Sidmouth, Devon in early May.


Gerard Hendriks

Enough said. How versatile is Gerard!


Ben Gassenbauer




Ektarina Savo



Maksym Kisilov


Aynur Akalin


Jung-Hun-Sung


Amit Kapoor



 Rachel Toll

This young British artist has a very interesting website.



Yuko Nagayama

Fabulous detail and looseness plus colour combined brilliantly by this wonderful Japanese artist.



Surentsetseg Munkhbaatar

Fabulous Mongolian artist. What a name though!



Tiejum Chao




Sunhee Kim (think this is correct?)



Anna Razumovskaya

Another find! One of many in this batch. Look at her other work which is easily 'googled'.



Another from Rachel Toll. -  See above.



Migull Linares Rios



Konstantin Sterkov

A well known Russian artist.



Fikret Tunah



Roberto Zangarelli

Another well-known artist look at his website for more excellent paintings.

What I try to do is give a wide range of different types of painting in watercolour to show the diversity and possibilities in this underrated medium. I think the above selection succeeds in doing this. Many of these artists are new to me and show how watercolour spans the World. Enlarge the ones that appeal to you, as not all will with personal preference, and give them careful study. If I have made any mistakes in the naming please feel free to correct me.