Watermark
on an underated workhorse
I don’t believe in influence. I think that in order to be an artist, you have to move. When you stop moving, then you’re no longer an artist…. But I do believe we unfold out of ourselves, and we do what we are born to do sooner or later, anyway. AGNES MARTIN
Welcome to my first In the Studio post. First, thanks to my subscribers for joining me here. I always feel a surge of energy after the New Year (or maybe it’s the holiday recovery bounce), so I am back in the studio after a long hiatus. I don’t want to be an inbox pest, so will write here twice a month and more regularly behind the scenes in Notes.
Why do I Muck Around in Watercolor Anyway?
Watercolor is underrated. It's a medium linked to hobbyists, children, King Charles, and retirees. And me. I used to paint in oils until I developed a bizarre allergy that delivered hives. At times, my arms looked like they'd been attacked by a mammoth, angry insect, so I moved on to water-based mediums like acrylic, but always preferred watercolor. Here are a few reasons why I'm a fan of this particular medium.
working on one of my bird flight pattern studies— the black-chinned hummingbird—with the sound amplified
First Love
When I was six, I used chalky watercolor pan paints to execute my first "formal" painting. I painted my chubby hand clutching a flower bouquet. My parents framed it and hung it in their downstairs bathroom, where it remained until an estate sale took it away. I fell in love with the medium's ease, even if it took me decades to realize that I was probably copying a Pablo Picasso poster hanging in my childhood bathroom.
Underdog
Everyone loves a good underdog. Watercolor is alluring because it’s not often considered edgy or in vogue. It also looks easy. It's portable, doesn't take up too much space, and is house-trained -- it doesn't make too much of a mess. But then comes trouble. It’s unforgiving and easily overworked. One clean stroke can quickly become a blotch and a runaway train. Even after thirty years, I stumble regularly. I have hundreds of duds sitting in my flat files that I turn into postcards or fold into mixed media. I used to teach watercolor painting and always had one student who would be on the verge of a nervous breakdown before the inevitable technical breakthrough. Learning watercolor basics is not gentle on the ego.
Inspiration
Many famous artists have embraced the medium:
And here's a list of some more contemporary artists:
But wait, wait there’s more — here’s a longer list of amazing painters.
True Color
Painting in watercolor forces you to amplify your color expertise -- well beyond the basics of your introduction to color theory class in art school. The viscosity of the paint, the flexibility of hue and saturation, and the delicacy of the layers are unparalleled teachers. I travel everywhere with my watercolors and make notes -- simple color diaries to remind myself what I saw that day.
Over the years, I've learned which hues correspond well together beyond the basics of complementary colors and which combinations vibrate simply by applying pigment to paper. Taking note of what is literally at your feet or overhead is the best way to elevate a rudimentary grasp of color. If you want to further your understanding of color, look to the natural world. Then start mixing.
All Ears
Finally, don't miss Jennifer Jewell’s (
) amazing interview with artist, writer, and gardener Lorene Edwards Forkner on her Cultivating Place podcast. Forkner explains how gardens and watercolor work in tandem to create a better understanding and awareness of the power of color. Jewell on Forkner's book -- Color In and Out of the Garden:"This collection of careful color studies of botanical (flowers, leaves, seeds, stems) and botanically adjacent (think time worn stones, beach bleached shells) treasures is offered out to us by the knowing hands of a gardener, the refined eye of an artist, the time tested taste of a cook, and the heart of a compassionate mother. It is seasoned with science: biology and the science of light, the science of color and that of sight. On one level it is an encouragement to practice being present, to practice paying attention and taking good care in and of the natural world, to practice really seeing."
JENNIFER JEWELL
Simply wonderful. Thank you Isa. I also appreciate the contemporary artists link to my website. Watercolor is really a wonderful medium, and since it is how I first met you many years ago it is even more special to me!
Thank you for shining a light on my book/work! It's always a surprise to be reading along in a Substack and find my name -- not that it happens very often. Anyway, I'm pleased to make your COLOR acquaintance.