Watercolor Perspective from Russia - K. Kuzema

http://kuzema.my1.ru/

A talented watercolor artist, widely recognized in Russia by watercolor lovers, representing the Saint-Petersburg watercolor society. He had been one of those who gave his efforts to revive the former Emperor Saint-Petersburg watercolor society after many decades of oblivion.

K. Kuzema. Evening Mood. 56x76. 2008

What the perspectives has watercolor medium? How had been changing the attitude to this medium during last years, last century in Russia?

Watercolor as medium has very misty perspective as the medium itself. Watercolors appeared long ago and considers “traditional” medium. Thus one shouldn`t expect a great support as if it was some up-to-date art. 

Also there is an opinion that watercolor technologies make defective product in cultural and material meanings. So we can`t expect adequate investment from the potential customers.

Such a situation doesn`t inspire young artists to become watercolorists. The World Watercolor Renaissance which had started in the end of the last century turned out a growth of watercolor popularity in home creativity.

 

Watercolor societies appeared a necessary but insufficient condition for uplifting the watercolor status in the system of cultural and material values. Nevertheless during the last 100 years, and particularly the last few decades watercolor techniques got strong up-grade from artists methodic and art materials. That gives a hope for watercolor surviving.

Thomas W. Schaller - Interview

I met Thomas on Facebook, and I saw a few works by him in the Watercolor Magazine. Short time ago I realized that I would like to know more about the artist but the net gave me too poor information. Then I asked my qquestions directly to Thomas.

When you started painting with watercolor? Did you ever try some other medium?

    In University, I studied painting in oil, acrylic, as well as various methods of printmaking.  But it was in architecture school that I first became drawn to the watercolor medium. I studied in the traditional Beaux-Arts   methods of precise pencil line drawing  with the application of layered washes of transparent watercolor.  These techniques have always resonated with me; and while much adapted and evolved over the years, have  formed the basis for all my watercolor artwork since.

Thomas W. Schaller. Man and Beast. 20x13`

How far can you go in imagination when you paint a concrete landscape?

Wet Technique from E. Bazanova

Elena Bazanova is a watercolorist from Saint-Petersburg. She comes from the artists family. She is graduated from the Repin Academy of Fine Arts where she developed her academic watercolor aproach. Some of her technique we can see from this video.
http://www.elenabazanova.ru/main.php

There Will Be Only Silence Here For 5 Days...

Yesterday afternoon Shri Mataji, my Spiritual Mother and Guru left Her physical body. Therefore there will be no post for the next 5 days - I am going to silence and meditation...

http://www.sahajayoga.org/shrimataji

How to Paint a Cat in Watercolor

In 2 weeks I have an intention to represent my new educational DVD. The topic is "Animals". One of 6 video lessons on DVD is about how to paint fur of a cat. Here is that lesson briefly.

5 TIPS FOR PET PAINTERS

• I am using a pallete limited to earth colors (burnt umber, raw umber, sepia, black), except for blue eyes.
• I am first painting in wet and adding dry brush in the end for the texture.
• The eyes of the cat I am keeping dry and white while first washing.
• First washes are of warm colors in wet, then are coming darker and cooller in wet.
• I am focusing on the muzzle, the rest is not important.

There might be different tips for a different case, but I am sure they will be helpfull.

Cheng-Khee Chee - Zen in XXI century

Cheng-Khee Chee, Associate Professor Emeritus of the University of Minnesota, is a Dolphin Fellow of the American Watercolor Society, signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America (Master Status), Watercolor USA Honor Society and many others. He is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Art, Who’s Who in American Education, and Dictionary of World Chinese Artists Achievements. He has been represented in numerous national juried exhibitions and captured over 200 honors.

Cheng-Khee Chee. Koi #1. 1998. 76x102

Mr. Cheng-Khee, you are a member of so many society and institutions. Doesn’t it disturb your painting activity in some way?

Not at all! Though I am signature member of many organizations, but I am not on the governing board of any of them, therefore they do not take away my painting time. The signature membership of an organization, such the American Watercolor Society (AWS), is acquired by having paintings accepted three times to the organization’s highly competitive annual national open juried exhibitions.

Cheng-Khee Chee. Koi #6, 2008, 56x76

I read some articles in Watercolor Artists Magazine and I admired 2 things: when you came to America you worked in the day and painted in the night, and other is that you keep painting every day. What is the source of inspiration for you?

Mika Törönen

I was looking through the art pages in FB and I found a demo video of a Finnish artist that I think I can share here. I also recognized the name of the artist that I heard from Finnish fellow artists some time ago. His name was Mika Törönen.

Where did you study art?

In Julian Ashton Art School, Sydney, Australia.

Why watercolor medium?

About 20-25 years ago I saw some watercolour paintings in gallery and fall in love.

Did you study watercolor or you have chosen it later? 

No, As a watercolor painter I am totally self taught.

Who would be an authority in Art for you among old masters and colleagues?

Anders Zorn, John Singer Sargent, Ilja Repin, Arthur Streeton, Hans Heysen.

In The Realm Of Dwarfs

Helsinki is all buried in snow. I am invited to teach in YLE painting club. YLE is a TV channel in Finland. It has a few high buildings. We enter one of the buildings, get into the lift cabin and it starts moving… downwards. After awhile it stops and we start walking along the corridors, a passage after the passage, turning left, right, left again…The walls are roughly worked up, they are not straight and vertical, I would say they are wavy, with very rough texture. We keep walking and I have a strong feeling that I found myself in a Dwarfs Kingdom.

Finally we arrived at the destination point – another corridor with a several class rooms for all sorts of crafts. Deep underground I was recalling the impressions of summer, sea, greenery, flowers, all those I was demonstrating in watercolors in my course. It was a bit unreal – all those colorful pictures under dozens of meters of rocks and granite in buried in snow Helsinki.

How to Paint a Seascape and a Sailing Boat

About this particular painting I`d like to stress that:

we are using only 3 colors.

we are making both soft and sharp borders.

we are creating the background at once and do not touch it after.

K.Sterkhov. Sunny Regatta. 25x35cm. 2009

Wash the sky with ochre, keep the highlights white. Soften the borders with water. Use a rather broad brush.

Seascape in Watercolor - 10 Mistakes

I recomend a Seascape as a subject to understand thoroughly the watercolor medium. It is not important if you didn`t paint with watercolor before. There are tricks to help you in mastering the watercolor technique. Even if you are experienced in watercolor, even then Seascape is the best training.

 

K. Sterkhov. Sea Meets Sky II. 56x76 cm, 2006

10 mistakes of the beginners in Watercolor Seascape:

• Usement of a too small brush. It does`t let one make big washes and keep the paper wet.
• The line of horizon devides the composition in two equal parts or the line of horizon is not straight or horizontal.
• Not enough water for the first wash. Too small container for water or it has too narrow top.
• Dull color. If you apply a cool color, it requires a supportive warm shade.
• Trying to repaint the background or, to change something in it when it starts drying.
• Applying several brush stokes at the same place one after another. You should`t controll everything by yourself, depend more upon water.
• Trying to continue painting the sky when you have painted the foreground.
• Lack of transparency in dark areas.
• Trying to make a very completed work.
• Equally approached the foreground and the background.

The World of Votsmush

"I go, find myself somewhere in my own program. That means not here: there is another universe that is inside. There are different processes going there. When I am taken out I hardly can decide what to do - it is very hard to come out of there... I mean, of course it is easy, but why?"

Alexander Shumtsov

Arush Votsmush. Where Chernysh Vanished To?

When studed in Academy all students from Alexander`s course invented a nick and an image for themselves. Alexander has become Votsmush - mirror reflection of his name Russian spelling.  And ever since he is living and creating by putting everithing upside down.

Ledingrad Cats

Let me introduce Vladimir Rumyantsev, a watercolorist fellow from St.Petersburg Watercolor society.

His watercolor works look more like illustrations. They are always full of details and humor. Partucularly I admire his cats - he`s got plenty!

Vladimir Rumyantsev. Petersburg Romance. 2006