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 Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Choose the Right Surface for Your Watercolor Technique
Posted by Kelly
 Canadian artist Sandrine Pelissier creates rich mixed-media portraits bursting with life. In the August issue of Watercolor Artist she shares in-depth details about her process. Here's what she had to say about how she chooses which surface to use for a particular subject: “When choosing a subject, I ask myself what kind of paper and technique would help me best convey the effect I’m looking for,” says Pelissier. “Do I want the subtle, controlled effect afforded by layering on absorbent, Arches 300-lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper, or the brighter colors and texture that painting directly on Yupo paper offers? (Yupo is a non-absorbent, synthetic paper that allows paint to stay on the surface and dry by evaporation, making more or less predictable patterns in the process.) For results that fall somewhere in-between, I opt for watercolor board; and for paintings with a lot of texture, I work on wood panels or canvas.”  For more painting tips from Sandrine Pelissier, check out her feature in the August 2009 issue of Watercolor Artist.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
6/17/2009 3:05:37 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00) 
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
5 Tips for Painting Water from Charles Reid
Posted by Kelly
 1. Water should be painted with hard edges between the light from the sky and the reflections from trees, buildings or boats. 2. Paint wet-in-wet within the reflections but rarely where the reflection meets the sunlight. 3. For distant water on the horizon, try moist Antwerp blue or peacock blue (Holbein). Sometimes I use ultramarine violet if the horizon line of the sea seems very dark. 4. In shallow water, use diluted Antwerp blue, peacock blue or Winsor blue. These are all transparent blues that retain their color identity when diluted. 5. Sometimes water near the shore can turn a delicate turquoise green. You can add turquoise green to your palette, or simply mix diluted cadmium yellow pale or lemon yellow with one of the diluted blues to achieve the same color. For more painting tips from Charles Reid, check out:
From the Magazine | Reviews | Videos
6/10/2009 10:41:12 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Meet Our Creativity Workshop Winners!
Posted by sarah
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
5/12/2009 11:54:22 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Swipe File: Tips from Watercolor Artist Readers
Posted by sarah
Over the years, we've amassed a vast collection of reader-submitted tricks of the trade, many of which we've published in our popular Swipe File column or on our website. We thought now would be the perfect time to re-introduce this department and invite readers to share their best timesaving, budget-friendly tips and techniques. Here's one of our favorites from Bonnie Rodgers, who saved herself a nice chunk of change with a bit of grit and ingenuity:  Recently, while preparing for a plein air journey, I searched for a journal of the right size for my art travel bag. I wanted one that had 140-lb., cold-pressed paper. Local stores only allowed me a 90-lb. version. So, I looked on the internet and found a journal maker, but she was having trouble finding the right glue to adhere to the heavier paper. I tried to make my own from leather, watercolor paper and binding thread, but due to my limited time and knowledge, I gave up on that idea. Then I came up with the solution: different-sized photo albumns that I could populate with watercolor paper, cut to the size of the albumns' sleeves or smaller. I found I could also extend the book size by adding larger spine pins to accommodate more sleeves. It worked wonderfully! I could paint on any size (as long as it was smaller than the paper I had brought with me). I could also collect tickets and memorabilia for future use and memory ticklers in the photo sleeves. On days when I needed to reduce the weight I was carrying, I could undo the spine screw pins and take pages out.  The best thing of all was that I saved myself about $125. Journals with enough pages, the proper paper weight, and the right-sized paper for sketching and journaling, with a sturdy binding that would hold up to rigorous use cost about $150 to $200, when available. Photo albums cost $7.50 to $15 and one sheet of 140-lb. watercolor paper costs $7.99. Each sheet of watercolor paper allowed me to cut several pages of 3x5-inch, 4x6-inch, and 6x8-inch journal pages for three different-sized journals. This idea will serve me well for all my plein air journeys. Thanks Bonnie!
Send a description of your method and a photo or JPEG (with a resolution of 300 dpi) illustrating a tip or technique to wcamag@fwmedia.com for your chance to see your bright ideas in print, on our site or in our e-newsletter. Who knows? Your idea might be just the thing that a fellow artist needs to find his or her way back to the easel.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
5/6/2009 8:36:07 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Take Better Reference Photos
Posted by sarah
 Watercolor artist Henry Dixon helps you start your painting composition
out on the right foot by sharing his best advice for taking good
reference photos. To download, click here: wc-dixon.pdf Save the PDF to your desktop and reference it whenever you like, print it out or e-mail it to a friend. For more great ideas from Henry Dixon, check out his book Paint Amazing Watercolors from Photographs.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
4/28/2009 12:26:12 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Calling All Watermedia Artists
Posted by Kelly
From the Magazine
4/14/2009 9:04:00 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, April 13, 2009
Rachel Collins Online Gallery
Posted by Kelly
From the Magazine
4/13/2009 9:07:18 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Free Sample Day at Watercolor Artist
Posted by sarah
 You've probably heard the hub-bub about new, digital frontiers in the publishing industry, but if you're an artist who likes to spread her magazines out near her easel and paint from the step-by-steps, you're probably wondering what all of this has to do with you. One advantage of purchasing magazines in a digital format is that they're extremely portable (you can pop a copy on a zip drive and take it anywhere you want to go without worrying about damage or loss). They're also easily searchable (you can use bookmarks and hyperlinks to navigate within the issue and online). And they're easily printable if need be (you can print high quality copies of your favorite articles right from your desktop printer). Some call digital issues "green alternatives" and some call them "space savers" and some call them "tech candy." We just want to give artists every possible means of enjoying our fabulous watercolor content. To that end, we've made a committment to digitizing our archives. If you're interested, but still a little skittish, think about downloading a free sample of our April 2009 issue in its digital format. You'll get watercolorist Scott Zupanc's gorgeous cover image, our table of
contents and the opening spread of our cover artist's full-length
feature, in an easy-to-search PDF format that works on almost all
computers equipped with a free Acrobat Reader program. If you like what you see, click here to order the full issue from our handy online store.
From the Magazine
4/7/2009 4:40:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Shipping to Subscribers on April Fool's Day ...
Posted by sarah
 June 2009 Features
Color Revival
By Jessica Canterbury with Butch Krieger
Exciting new colors join reformulated favorites on the market this year. No matter what type of painter you are, you’re bound to find something here that will excite your senses and stir your creative spirit.
High Definition
By Meredith E. Lewis
Jonathan Frank celebrates the unique landscape of the American West in watercolor and ink.
Articulation of the Bone
By Sarah A. Strickley
In homage to nature’s design, Rachel Collins gets up close for a dramatic portrayal of vertebrae and flowers.
The Outsider
By Ken Gofton
English artist David Paskett reveals much of himself and his own life experiences in dynamic paintings of Hong Kong and mainland China.
In the Field
By Russell Jewell
Painting outdoors is a surefire way to loosen up and get attuned to your subject. This noted plein air painter tells you all you need to know to get started.
Natural Beauty
By Kelly Kane
Malaysian artist Ismail Kadir paints scenes that capture the native customs and traditional ways of life still found in the country’s jungle villages and lively fishing communities.
Columns
Making a Splash
Edited by Jessica Canterbury
Discover seven simple tips for writing grants, a handy tool for applying color theory to your garden, and what to do in artsy St. Louis.
Creativity Workshop
By Nicholas Simmons
Learn how to use Adobe Photoshop to help push your painting compositions beyond the ordinary.
Meet the Masters
By Carrie Oeding
Learn how Arthur Dove, an American watercolor master, got by with a little help from friend Alfred Stieglitz.
Watercolor Essentials
By Henry W. Dixon
Follow along step by step as this accomplished watercolorist demonstrates how to
craft compelling paintings from photographs. Click here to order your copy!
From the Magazine
3/30/2009 5:01:29 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Free Step-by-Step Watercolor Download
Posted by sarah
 Learn how to capture the "bounce" of sunlight on surfaces step-by-step with our latest digital download, "Reflection of Sunlight," from esteemed watercolor artist Jeanne Dobie. Click here for your free copy.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
3/30/2009 12:28:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Announcing the Watercolor Winners
Posted by sarah
In the February 2009 issue of Watercolor Artist, Chica Brunsvold
challenged readers to play "Hide and Seek" with their watermedia
paintings: "Bring true originality and spunk to your work by repainting
a completed painting, or by adopting a spontaneous, non-objective
approach with a new painting," she said. It gives us great pleasure to announce that Jeanne Hyland of Santa Fe is the winner of the $100 gift certificate to North Light books for her painting, Poppies. Our runners up include Mary Lou Arnold, Sheila DeLaquil, Pearl O Taylor and Cida Smith.
Congratulations our winners and all those who entered their paintings.
Enjoy a gallery of the winning works and the stories behind the
paintings by clicking here. And don't forget to enter your work to win the next
Creativity Workshop. Click here to find out how.
From the Magazine
3/11/2009 11:10:40 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, March 02, 2009
Cast Your Vote on the Best Watercolor Artist Cover
Posted by sarah
  One of the most exciting—and challenging—moments in the editorial process that begins with recruiting the talented watermedia artists you see featured in our pages and ends with the magazine arriving at your doorstep, is choosing which painting will appear on our cover. There are many variables involved—orientation, composition and color, to name only a few—but our primary aim is to select a painting that will convey the tone and timbre of the work happening in watermedia today, while also drawing the eye of potential readers at the newsstand. Care to lend us a hand with our selection for our June 2009 issue? We'd love to hear what you think. Cast your vote for the best Watercolor Artist cover by clicking here.
From the Magazine
3/2/2009 11:13:33 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sign Up for the Watercolor Artist E–Newsletter
Posted by Kelly
As promised, Watercolor Artist has launched its own newsletter! If you receive the Artists Network newsletters, you’ll still see items from the magazine there, but now you can also sign up to receive biweekly watermedia news and updates from Watercolor Artist in your in-box. Signing up is easy: Go to our website and type your e-mail address into the box at the top left corner and click GO.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
2/25/2009 11:51:10 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Tuesday, February 03, 2009
New issue!
Posted by sarah
 In case you missed the news, our April 2009 issue shipped to subscribers today and is now available for purchase in our online store. Check it out: Approach natural subjects from an
oblique angle with watercolorists Scott Zupanc and Erin Farnsworth,
learn how to transition to acrylics with Mark Mehaffey, and go behind
the portraits of the beloved Chinese artist, Guan Weixing. Plus, ponder
the beauty of the everyday with Stan Goudey's cityscapes.
Use our handy survey of supports to bring clarity and texture to your
work, join our Creativity Workshop to learn the secrets behind simple
collage techniques, and find out how to bring Chinese brush techniques
to your watercolor paintings.
From the Magazine
2/3/2009 9:04:58 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Saturday, January 31, 2009
Watercolor Artist 2008 Issues Available on CD
Posted by Kelly
 If you're like me, you've got all your favorite issues of the magazine piled up on a corner of your desk or  studio work table, with every good intention to sort through and catalog them—some day. Save yourself the time and work space, and get all six 2008 issues of the magazine on one handy CD. It's searchable by keyword, and you can take it with you on your laptop or print articles to use in your studio. Some of highlights include: • A year's worth of Watercolor Essentials: Learn how to create the illusion of depth, rich texture, and brilliant color in light and shadow. Plus, tips for painting skies and the figure. • Tips for Selling Your Art: Five professional artists share the details you'll need to get started today. • A User's Guide to Watercolor Paint: An artist and industry insider unscrambles the cryptic symbols and codes on paint tube labels and explains what they mean to you. • Plus, more than 400 pages of tips and inspiration from some of the most exciting watercolorists working today, including Jean Pederson, Jeanette Pasin Sloan, Paul Jackson, Eric Wiegardt, Donna Zagotta, Joseph Zbukvic, Stan Miller, Steve Stento, Henry Fukuhara, and many more! Click here for more details.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
1/31/2009 2:49:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Shipping to subscribers in just one week...
Posted by sarah
April 2009 Features
Follow the Leader
By Sarah A. Strickley
An avid outdoorsman and consummate painter, Scott Zupanc combines two loves in his unique nature-inspired paintings.
Snapshot of Life
By Meredith E. Lewis
Stan Goudey’s quiet paintings of urban and industrial landscapes and interiors shine a light on the beauty of everyday scenes.
Sticks and Stones
By Louise B. Hafesh
Erin Farnsworth’s paintings of arranged stones, leaves and sticks explore the relationships between man and nature, and interior and exterior spaces.
The Same but Different
By Mark Mehaffey
A (still) passionate watercolorist, Mark Mehaffey has found the transition to acrylics easier—and more exciting—than he could have imagined.
Profiles in Courage
By Guan Weixing
This beloved Chinese watercolorist introduces you to the strong, industrious people who inhabit his portraits, and shares his methods for capturing their unique stories in paint.
Columns
Making a Splash
By Jessica Canterbury
Where to celebrate Earth Day this year; how art therapy is helping traumatized kids; a virtual tour of Columbus, Ohio’s artistic offerings and more.
Creativity Workshop
By Joyce Gabiou
Add texture and depth to your watercolor paintings with these simple collage techniques.
Studio Staples
By Jessica Canterbury
Find the right surface for the effects you want with this handy survey of supports.
Meet the Masters
By Tamera Lenz Muente
Charles Burchfield’s animated landscapes reflect his early fascination with the changing seasons and weather.
Watercolor Essentials
By Lian Quan Zhen
Learn how to incorporate traditional Chinese brush painting techniques into your watercolor paintings.
From the Magazine
1/27/2009 5:21:17 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, January 19, 2009
Creativity Workshop Winners
Posted by sarah
 We're pleased to announce that Carol E. Hatch of San Antonio, TX is the winner of our $100 gift certificate to Jerry's Artarama, with her painting, Rose Window, Mission San Jose (pictured left). Our runners up include Erma Pierce of Westerville, Ohio; Graham Lock of the UK; Nancy Blatz of Monroe, Maine; and Robert P. Hedden of Wellesley Island, NY.
Congratulations to these remarkable watermedia artists and all those who sent us their paintings. Enjoy a gallery of the winning works and the stories behind
the paintings by clicking here. Don't forget to enter your work to win the
next Creativity Workshop. The deadline for entry is February 20, 2009. Click here for the details.
From the Magazine
1/19/2009 10:22:24 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Thursday, January 08, 2009
Free Download: Painting with Pure Colors
Posted by jessica
From the Magazine | Overheard | Tips and Tools
1/8/2009 2:11:24 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, December 22, 2008
Happy Holidays from the Staff of Watercolor Artist
Posted by sarah
We're closing up shop for the week at the Watercolor Artist
blog, but we didn't want to go without wishing you the best for the
holiday season. We'll be back with watercolor news and views  soon. Until then, happy holidays! 
The WCA team from left to right: Jessica (managing editor),
Sarah (features editor), Cindy (art director) and Kelly (editor).
From the Magazine
12/22/2008 3:10:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, December 15, 2008
Where's Your Creativity Workshop Entry?
Posted by sarah
 Creativity Workshop entries are rolling in with the deadline fast approaching (December 22, 2008), which reminds us to celebrate the winners of the last challenge: Katherine Bates of Ridgewood, NJ was the winner of our $100 gift certificate to Jerry's Artarama with her painting The Butterfly Visits the Dahlia (pictured here). Our runners-up included Joan Elliot of Unicoi, TN and June Rollins of Wadesboro, NC. See all of the winning paintings (and more) on our site by clicking here. To find out how to enter your work to win the prize (not to mention the the glory) click here.
From the Magazine
12/15/2008 9:02:43 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, December 08, 2008
Your Watermedia Collage Career
Posted by sarah
For those among us who have pondered bringing elements of collage into our watercolor paintings, but have been at a loss for how to get things started, the February issue of Watercolor Artist (on newsstands 12/23/08) is a must-have. In our Special Report, we take you inside the creative minds of six of the most dynamic watermedia collage artists working today, who reveal everything from where to find the most beautiful collage papers, to how best to affix papers to your paintings. Get tips from collagist Joyce Gabiou on our website now by clicking here. 
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
12/8/2008 8:55:14 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, December 01, 2008
Creativity Workshop - Best of Both Worlds
Posted by sarah
Visit our site to read the latest Creativity Workshop prompt from watercolorist Bev Jozwiak (whose work is featured below) and find out how you can enter your work to win a $100 gift certificate to Jerry's Artarama. The deadline for entry is December 22, 2008. 
From the Magazine
12/1/2008 9:42:10 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, October 13, 2008
Creativity Workshop Winners Announced
Posted by sarah
 Visit our site to see all of the finalists for our Speedy Delivery challenge--and read about the fabulous artists who took on the challenge together. Our winner, Mary Ann Boysen, (whose painting The Watering Trough at the Barn is pictured here), was surprised by the news that she'd won. "Thank you for the nice surprise. At first I didn’t believe it," she said. "I look forward to perusing Jerry’s for some art supplies soon." Don't forget to enter your work for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Jerry's Artarama. Click here for the details.
From the Magazine
10/13/2008 11:38:43 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, October 06, 2008
Free Downloadable Watercolor Lesson
Posted by sarah
 Treat yourself to a watercolor painting lesson this week--for free! Visit our website to download a step-by-step lesson from watercolor artist Joye Moon by clicking here. Moon walks readers through the process of painting abstract florals and offers a few bonus tips.
From the Magazine
10/6/2008 4:07:56 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, October 01, 2008
New Jean Grastorf Videos on ArtistsNetwork.TV
Posted by jessica
We’re proud to announce two new workshops on ArtistsNetwork.TV featuring watercolor artist Jean Grastorf. As many of you know, Grastorf uses fresh approaches with watercolor. In her first workshop, she demonstrates her signature pouring technique: Without a brush, she masks areas that are to remain white, and then pours transparent watercolors on the surface. In the second workshop, she creates an abstract watercolor painting, demonstrating techniques such as creating texture, using wax resist, masking, and scraping paint with the edge of a credit card. Click below to see a preview of the videos.
You can also watch previews of the 10 other 40-plus minute videos to help you decide if you’d like to subscribe to an individual workshop ($14.99) for a six-month period with unlimited, 24/7 viewing access, or subscribe to all of them for a six-month period ($69.99) with unlimited, 24/7 viewing access. There’s no downloading required, and you can watch any time of the day as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools | Videos
10/1/2008 12:17:29 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, September 29, 2008
Creativity Workshop: Painting Off-Road
Posted by sarah
 Kathleen Maling challenges artists to paint their local environments in the October issue of Watercolor Artist:
Research your local environment and decide what makes it unique. Then
consider methods of intimately exploring it in ways you might not
normally attempt: by trail, by 
water, or even by air. Always be aware of your surroundings and pack
appropriate equipment. If you're spending time on the water, be sure to
carry your camera or other electronics in an airtight, waterproof
container. Maling is pictured at right, using her canoe to search for subjects in their natural environments. Read the full online article by clicking here.
Try It!Get together with your painting group, or complete the Creativity
Workshop Activity on your own; then tell us about it. Send a JPEG image
(with a resolution of 72 dpi) of your painting to wcamag@fwpubs.com.
We’ll publish a selection of the entries on our website and choose a
favorite. One winner will receive a $100 gift certificate from Jerry’s Artarama. The deadline for entry is October 20, 2008. To see more Creativity Workshop Activities and a gallery of reader responses, click here.
From the Magazine
9/29/2008 9:06:23 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, September 26, 2008
1 Day Left: Romare Bearden Show
Posted by jessica
 A show our Manhattan readers won’t want to miss is Romare Bearden: City Lights at DC Moore Gallery—and if they don’t see it by tomorrow, they will miss it (it closes Sept. 27). The artist is fresh in our minds as well; he was featured in our “Meet the Masters” column in the August issue of the magazine. Here’s what that gallery has to say about the exhibition: “The exhibition features 20 vibrantly expressive watercolors, some with paper collage, that capture the rhythm and energy of New York City. Painted between 1979 and 1986, they literally burst with color that flows across the surface of compact, highly charged compositions. Several of the works on view are from a series of cityscapes done for the opening credits in John Cassavetes’ 1980 film, Gloria.” (Pictured: Broadway, c. 1979-80, by Romare Bearden)
From the Magazine | Overheard
9/26/2008 4:51:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
2008 Ones to Watch/Watercolor Society Showcase
Posted by jessica
 Having just finished our December issue, which announces our 2008 Ones to Watch, we’re currently working on our February issue special report: the annual Society Winners Showcase. As the watercolor society exhibition catalogs roll in, I’m noticing a delightful trend: the reappearance of works by this year’s Ones to Watch! So who are these art stars? You’ll have to wait for the December issue, on sale Oct. 28. Speaking of watercolor societies, three shows you might be interested in are currently on display: National Watercolor Society 88th Annual Exhibition: through November 1 at the Riverside Art Museum (Riverside, California) The Alaska Watercolor Society 34th Annual Juried Exhibition: through September 22 at the Stephan Fine Art Gallery (Anchorage, Alaska) California Watercolor Association Member Fall Show: September 27 through December 30 at Gallery Concord (Concord, California) (Pictured: Feeding Time (30x22), winner of the National Watercolor Society Purchase Award, with Silver Star, by Soon Y. Warren)
From the Magazine | Overheard
9/18/2008 10:03:43 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, August 28, 2008
73 Best Websites for Artists
Posted by jessica
 Sure, you’re online. But how much time do you waste finding useful sites for artists? We trolled the web—so you wouldn’t have to—and came up with 73 sites we found most useful. The results can be found in the October issue of the magazine, but you can also download the document by clicking here to have the document right on your desktop and, with the click of your mouse, go directly to the sites. Obviously, you’ve found the Watercolor Artist blog, so there’s a start.
From the Magazine
8/28/2008 11:09:16 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, August 25, 2008
Creativity Workshop Winners
Posted by sarah
In the June 2008 issue of Watercolor Artist,
Wendy Hill challenged readers to loosen up with a spontaneous
background. "Deciding how to handle the background can sometimes be the
most difficult part of making a painting," she said. Hill recommended
that artists experiment with unconventional tools--tea bags, coffee
filters, sponges, leaves, paper, plastic wrap and salt, to name a
few--in order to liberate the painting process. (Click here to read an excerpt of the column)
Artists from all over the country responded to her call in record
numbers and sent us images of experiments of their own. We're now
pleased to announce the winner of the $100 gift certificate from
Jerry's Artarama: Gail Gwinup with What's Black and White (see below). Runners-up include Nancy Standlee, Helen K. Beacham, Mary Hopf and Doreen Spoor. Click here to see all of the winning works and read about their creation. And thanks to everyone who entered! A reminder: There's just one day left to enter your Speedy Delivery paintings for a chance to win your $100 gift certificate to Jerry's Artarama. Click here for the details. 
From the Magazine
8/25/2008 9:26:44 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, August 21, 2008
Online Slide Show: Henry Fukuhara
Posted by jessica
 Artist Al Setton celebrates and honors the long career of beloved painter and teacher with a very special feature in the Henry FukuharaOctober 2008 issue of Watercolor Artist. “A modernist in his approach, Henry celebrates freedom of expression above all else, demonstrating a regard for daring color shape and design choices over a detailed or realistic depiction of the natural world,” writes Setton. Click here for a slide show of some of the artist's works.
From the Magazine
8/21/2008 4:54:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, August 11, 2008
Enter Your "Speedy Delivery" Paintings to Win $100
Posted by sarah
 Just a friendly reminder: The Creativity Workshop deadline is fast approaching for the August 2008 issue, in which Kathy Collins challenges readers to use a rapid painting process to achieve freshness and avoid overworking in their watercolors. Read an excerpt of the article here. And send your paintings to wcamag@fwpubs.com to win the $100 gift certificate to Jerry's Artarama by August 26, 2008. Recently, a reader wrote in about Collins' challenge: I enjoyed reading Kathy Collins' Creativity Workshop in the August 2008 issue and I'd like to try it; however, I'm not really clear on the composition step. How do you design it? What exactly is a cruciform shape and what are layers of color in varying sizes? Could we see some pictures of this first step? That would be so helpful. Sincerely, Trudie Kiliru.As it turns out, Collins loves reader mail and was happy to reply: In response to the reader’s questions, designing a composition is the first step toward a successful painting and I appreciate her interest in learning more. The composition forms the basic structure of a painting. As I noted in the Creativity Workshop, there are some simple designs that work well, so it’s not always necessary to invent a new composition every time you paint. The cruciform pattern (cross-shape) is one of these designs and layers of varying sizes is another.
By way of illustration, a page from my sketchbook shows the bare bones structure of two of my paintings. I designed the painting Field in Summer (above) with three
layers like a pile of pancakes: the sky, the purple mountains and the
yellow-green foreground. It’s important that each layer be a different
size and not exactly the same shape for variety. The sketch illustrates
the basic structure of that painting.
In Synchrony (at bottom) the mast of the boat and its reflection comprise a vertical line and the shoreline is the second (horizontal) line. This cruciform pattern is basically two lines that cross each other at a 90 degree angle and is usually designed so that the center of interest is at the place where the two lines intersect (preferably not in the center).
 There are innumerable ways to compose a painting and I've named only a few, but I hope this explanation has been helpful and I congratulate the reader on her willingness to try the Creativity Workshop!
Best Regards,
Kathy Collins
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
8/11/2008 9:59:58 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Watercolors in Nashville
Posted by jessica
 Last weekend, while in Nashville, Tennessee (look for the town in the upcoming "Where It's At" column in the October issue), I had the opportunity to visit the Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art—a truly fantastic place for both lush gardens and top-notch art. What surprised me about the attraction wasn’t the 1932 mansion or its 100 acres of land, but rather what hung on the walls around us. We got to catch “A Century on Paper,” prints, drawings and watercolors from the museum’s collection by renowned and lesser-known artists—some of which haven’t been exhibited in 20 years. And as for the well-known artists, think John Marin, Thomas Hart Benton, Georgia O’Keeffe, Robert Rauschenberg. Below are some photos (of the gardens), but I definitely recommend seeing it for yourself if you’re going to be in the Nashville area before Sept. 21.
From the Magazine | Overheard | Reviews
7/23/2008 5:01:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Stephen Quiller: Color Theory for Watercolorists
Posted by jessica
One of the seven videos currently offered on ArtistsNetwork.tv—a new site from F+W Media that offers instructional (streaming) videos from today’s leading artists—features beloved artist Stephen Quiller on color theory for watercolorists. Click below to see a preview of the video.
You can also click here for previews of the other six 40-plus minute videos to help you decide if you’d like to subscribe to an individual workshop for a six-month period, or subscribe to all of them for a six-month period. You don’t have to download anything, and you can watch any time of the day as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection. Take note that more artists’ workshops are on the production lineup, including ones from watermedia artists Mark Willenbrink and Jean Grastorf, so visit often, and sign up to receive the e-mail newsletter for advance notice on new workshops.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools | Videos
7/16/2008 10:17:42 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, July 09, 2008
August Creativity Workshop
Posted by sarah
From the Magazine
7/9/2008 10:52:43 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, July 07, 2008
Nita Leland Blogs
Posted by sarah
 While strolling around the web today, I noticed that Nita Leland is blogging. In addition to authoring several popular art-instruction books for North Light, she's also contributed a number of articles to the magazine. In fact, we debuted our Creativity Workshop column with an exerpt from Leland's The New Creative Artist: A Guide to Developing Your Creative Spirit. With the recent success of the column (the entries for the June installment of the column positively flooded our inbox), it strikes me as fitting to take a look back at the column's genesis. So, let's take a look at what Leland is doing these days: She's got a new book in the works ( check out her pre-pub offer) and she's taking a look at what her readers are doing with her Photoshopping tips. Visit her archives for some insightful ramblings on gouache.
From the Magazine | Overheard
7/7/2008 9:14:33 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Thursday, July 03, 2008
18 Places to Sell Your Art
Posted by jessica
 Looking to break into the professional art arena and make a living making your art? Michael Chesley Johnson explored the many facets of this subject in our June issue. Click here to download the free PDF and have the file right on your desktop. Happy Fourth!
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
7/3/2008 1:08:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
20 Tips for Framing Watercolors
Posted by jessica
 Inside the August issue of the magazine, you’ll find a special report on choosing the right framing materials. Many of you have already asked for more articles like this one, so with that in mind, we’ve added to our website a blast-from-the-past corresponding feature— 20 tips for framing watercolors by Jean Easter, of Easter Conservation Services. Learn how to “let your artistic voice sing” with great tips from a pro by clicking here.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
6/25/2008 11:21:59 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, June 06, 2008
Must-See Show: El Greco to Velázquez
Posted by jessica
"I would rather be the first painter of common things than second in higher art." —Diego Velázquez
Today we celebrate the birthday of master realist painter Diego Velázquez (June 6, 1599), which brings to mind the exhibition currently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (as highlighted in the Must-See Shows section in our June issue): El Greco to Velazquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III. Running through July 27, the show includes Spanish paintings, sculpture and decorative arts created from 1598 to 1621—by both lesser-known artists as well as the legends El Greco and Velázquez. If you can’t make it to Boston, check out the MFA’s exhibition web extras (podcasts, mobile phone wallpapers, slide show images) here.
From the Magazine | Overheard
6/6/2008 1:50:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Ones to Watch: Where Are They Now?
Posted by jessica
 How’s this for coincidence: We just received an update from Robin Purcell, one of our 2007 Ones to Watch, and we also just happen to be in the thick of the judging process for this year’s installation of the feature. Purcell, of California, wrote to announce the recent posting of her paintings from this year's Carmel Art Festival to her blog. A plein air painter, Purcell has a unique style that breaks down the western landscape into glowing sections of color. She admits she “was probably permanently warped by doing paint by numbers as a child,” and it shows in her paintings—in a good way. pictured: Top of the World, Carmel Valley (watercolor on paper, 12x16) by Robin Purcell
From the Magazine | Overheard
5/28/2008 2:32:57 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
ArtistsNetwork.tv Makes its Debut
Posted by jessica
We told you it was coming: Today we’re proud to announce the launch of ArtistsNetwork.tv, a new website from F+W Publications that offers instructional (streaming) videos from today’s leading artists—so you don’t have to download anything, and you can watch any time of the day as long as you have a high-speed Internet connection. So far, the site offers five 40-plus minute workshops, including two with Stephen Quiller (and at least two more coming before the end of this month), and more on the production lineup from other beloved watermedia artists such as Mark Willenbrink and Jean Grastorf. You can choose to subscribe to any of the individual workshops for a six-month period, or subscribe to all of them for a six-month period—your call. Click here for subscription information.
From the Magazine | Overheard | Videos
5/14/2008 4:37:16 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, May 12, 2008
Online Exclusive: Andy Evansen
Posted by sarah
 In September of 2007, watercolor artist Andy Evansen and three friends—oil painters Jason Situ,
Kevin Macpherson and John Budicin—had a rare opportunity to explore both the world and their own abilities as artists. They were invited to travel to the city of Kaiping in southeastern China for a seven-day plein air painting trip. Though they'd done little planning and knew very little what to expect, the experience proved to be a memorable (and productive) one for the artists. Read about their special journey and see photos and paintings from the trip in our latest online exclusive: a free downloadable pdf of the full-text feature.
From the Magazine
5/12/2008 1:16:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Other Artists Who Rock: Amy Winehouse?
Posted by jessica
 The June issue’s Making a Splash column (“Art Rocks”) focuses on the convergence of visual and sonic art, noting some musicians who also dabble in the visual art realm: Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bryan Ferry, Marilyn Manson, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Natalie Merchant, David Byrne, Miles Davis, k.d. lang, John Mellencamp, Stevie Nicks, Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, Graham Nash, John Entwistle, Kim Gordon, Bono, Grace Slick, Patti Smith, Janis Joplin. Readers were asked to submit other names, and while we’ve received a few—Donna Summer, Cat Stevens, Herb Alpert, Paul Stanley ( keep them coming)—we were especially pleasantly surprised to see that tabloid target Amy Winehouse is discovering watercolor. Rock on.
From the Magazine | Overheard
4/30/2008 4:28:21 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Win $100 in Art Supplies for Your Watercolor Painting
Posted by sarah
 Good news: we've extended our deadline! Now you have until May 10, 2008 to send us your Creativity Workshop Activity. In the April 2008 issue of Watercolor Artist, Nancy Collins
invites you to discover new creative territories: "Bring new energy to
your work by experimenting with a process or a surface. Select subjects
that mirror the qualities you’d like to explore with your choices. For
example, if you’d like to experiment with a burnishing process as I
did, select subjects that will be enhanced by a shining surface.
Learning through trial and error can be challenging and it can also
reap unexpected rewards. It’s all about finding what works for you—and
running with it," she says. Read a full summary of Collins' Creativity Workshop column here.
Send us your Creativity Workshop Activity for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate from Jerry’s Artarama. Send a JPEG image (with a resolution of 72 dpi) of your painting to wcamag@fwpubs.com or send a disc to Watercolor Artist, Creativity Workshop, Experiment Activity, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati OH 45236. The new extended deadline for entry is May 10, 2008. Interested in seeing what artists just like you have painted in response to previous Creativity Workshops? Go here and here.
From the Magazine | Overheard | Tips and Tools
4/28/2008 2:37:25 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
A Watercolor Master in Our Midst
Posted by jessica
 Miller Gallery, located right down the road from the Watercolor Artist headquarters, has just received four paintings from renowned watercolorist Paul Jackson, a featured artist many times in the magazine—as well as others, such as Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NPR and CBS News, to name a few—most recently in our April 2008 issue. Two of the works new to Miller Gallery were actually featured in the WCA article by Christine Proskow: Floating Palace (watercolor on paper, 57x23; pictured at left) and Fascination (watercolor on paper, 40x60; below). Here’s what the gallery says about the artist: “In our continuing efforts to bring the top artists in the world to Cincinnati, Miller Gallery is pleased to introduce Paul C. Jackson, A.W.S. Paul, who lives in Columbia, Kansas, is without doubt, if not the best, easily one of the top five finest watercolor artists in the world.” And here’s what Jackson had to say about watercolor (from our April 2008 issue): “Watercolor always seemed to have a soul that other media didn’t possess. Its translucency and transparency make it one of the most exciting things I know.” 
From the Magazine | Overheard
4/23/2008 10:15:50 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, April 07, 2008
Highsmith's Trains and Bison
Posted by sarah
 We love to hear from our featured artists that they're doing well (which, according to most artists' internal barometers, means that they're painting like crazy and loving it) and so it's with particular satisfaction that we get to share this kind of news with you: If you've read the February 2007 issue of the magazine (one of my favorite covers, by the way) you've seen Robert Highsmith's fine southwest- and South Carolina-inspired watercolor landscapes. Now Highsmith is exploring two new dual interests: trains and bison. Marigold Arts has announced a solo show, Robert Highsmith: Into the West (June 6th through July 9th), featuring paintings done at Chama, one of New Mexico’s most scenic venues, and at Ted Turner's ranch near Santa Fe. Sounds tantalizing, eh? From the press release: Highsmith’s paintings make strong, simple statements that capture the light and landscapes of the Southwest, evincing equal parts technical virtuosity and heart. He paints primarily landscapes, occasionally focusing on a cow or architectural structure. Highsmith’s paintings reveal a softness of light, shadow, and brush that can only be accomplished with the immediacy of watercolor, complimented by the stark contrasts that lend the work its photorealism.
If this doesn't satisfy your craving for Highsmith's work, pick up the June issue of the magazine (on newsstands April 22, 2008). Highsmith is one of several artists who share their experiences in a Special Report on the fine art of selling your own fine art. Train at Antonio (watercolor on paper, 22x30) by Robert Highsmith
From the Magazine | Overheard
4/7/2008 9:17:21 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, April 04, 2008
Sneak Peek at Zbukvic's Sketchbook
Posted by Kelly
 Our June cover artist, Joseph Zbukvic, allowed us rare access to one of his precious sketchbooks. Filled with lively figure studies, dynamic trackside sketches of racehorses, and enlightening notes to self, the artist's sketchbook reveals a little of the magic behind the scenes of his beautiful paintings. We featured as many sketches as space allowed in the magazine, but couldn't bare to let this treasure go without recording a few more gems for you. Of course, nothing can replace the visceral experience of flipping through an artist's sketchbook pages, lingering over the notes in the margins, and running your fingers along the edge of a particularly masterful line, but this video presentation may be the next best thing. Enjoy!  Look for Zbukvic's cover story in the June 2008 issue, on newsstands April 22.
From the Magazine | Videos
4/4/2008 1:03:06 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, March 31, 2008
American Watercolor Society 2008 Exhibition
Posted by Kelly
F+W has removed this thread at the request of Ms. Luxenburg's attorney, and the thread will not be accessible while we are reviewing Ms. Luxenburg's objections.
From the Magazine | Overheard
3/31/2008 12:19:22 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, March 26, 2008
National Women's History Month Celebration
Posted by jessica
 As featured in the April issue of Watercolor Artist, this year’s National Women’s History Month (March) honors “Women’s Art, Women’s Vision.” The following 2008 honorees will be celebrated in New York City this weekend for a culminating series of events ( click here for the schedule): Judy Chicago (1939- ), painter/printmaker/needleworker Harmony Hammond (1954- ), painter Edna Hibel (1917- ), colorist Lihua Lei (1966- ), multimedia installation artist Cecilia Rose O’Neill (1874-1944), painter/illustrator/sculptor Violet Oakley (1874-1961), muralist/stained glass artist Jaune Quick-to-See-Smith (1940- ), abstract painter/lithographer Faith Ringgold (1934- ), painter/quilter Miriam Shapiro (1923- ), printmaker/painter Lorna Simpson (1960- ), photographer Nancy Spero (1926- ), painter June Claire Wayne (1918- ), painter/lithographer Also this weekend (March 29), The Fund for Women Artists launches the first Support Women Artists Now Day, or “SWAN Day,” a solidarity movement scheduled for the last Saturday of Women’s History Month. Find out how to get involved by clicking here.
From the Magazine
3/26/2008 12:07:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, March 07, 2008
Watercolor Masterpieces from the Brooklyn Museum
Posted by jessica
Maurice Brazil Prendergast, Sunday on the Beach (about 1896-98; watercolor on cream, moderately thick, moderately tuxtured wove paper). Brooklyn Museum
When we received word several months ago that the Taft Museum of Art’s exhibition lineup would include From Winslow Homer to Edward Hopper: American Watercolor Masterpieces from the Brooklyn Museum (which we featured in our February issue: "Where It's At"), we knew we would be taking a field trip. We did so on Wednesday, and I can think of no better way to recharge our editorial batteries for the remainder of the week.
The recently opened exhibition features 70 stellar watercolors from the Brooklyn Museum’s collection, chronicling the rise of the medium in America and shifts in technique over the years. The Brooklyn Museum was the first American art museum to start collecting watercolors, so it only makes sense that all of the greats are included, and several works from some—Eakins, Sargent, Hassam, Prendergast, Marin, Marsh (and, naturally, Homer and Hopper). Going through the exhibition, you're able to see these artists progressively finding and tuning their creative voices.
Personal highlights:
The first piece that caught my attention as I turned the corner and walked into the second gallery was none other than Sargent's breathtaking In a Levantine Port, which bears a striking resemblance to his White Boats (that ran in our December issue's "Studio Staples" column).
In the section on Modernism, I overheard a woman behind me say to her female friend who was pushing her wheelchair over to Prendergast’s Sunday on the Beach: “That’s a Prendergast, I just know it!” How refreshing to see firsthand a public thirst for water(color). Thanks to the Taft—and Brooklyn Museum—for quenching ours.
From the Magazine | Reviews
3/7/2008 11:55:01 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, March 03, 2008
Site Seeing
Posted by sarah
 As you probably already know, Watercolor Artist has a new online home. The new site was many years in the making and it marks a new beginning for the magazine as a member of a team of online powerhouses. We've joined forces with The Pastel Journal and The Artist's Magazine to form an unmatched network of resources for artists. It's awesome, emphasis on the awe. No matter what you're looking for, we reckon we've got it, but it might take you a little time to get used to our navigation before you find it. But because we love you, we thought we'd slip you a few shortcuts to hot watercolor items on the new site: - Looking for a painting workshop near you? We've got 18 pages of listings here. If you're not sure what kind of workshop is for you, take our workshop personality quiz here.
- Have you heard about our online exclusive with Jeanette Pasin Sloan? Check it out here. You'll also find a popular wet-on-wet demonstration here.
- Itching to see your fellow artists' responses to Cathy Johnson's challenge to simplify, simplify? See a few of our favorites here.
- Feeling too tight as you paint? Learn how to get loose from Eric Wiegardt here.
- Ever wonder which brushes Birgit O'Connor has up her sleeve? We've got them here.
- Looking for friends on the watercolor front? Check out our listing of societies here.
- Are you a chatty Kathy? Talk it up here.
- If you're wondering where to find that one issue you lent to some seemingly trustworthy friend only to see it disappear forever, we've got the place for you here.
- And if there's something you'd like to see on the site, you can always write us here.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
3/3/2008 1:45:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Thursday, February 21, 2008
Still Life on Film
Posted by sarah
 If you don't have plans for the evening, think about turning on our movie player and catching a few shows. (For free!) We've got art demos, films on technique and a growing list of featured artists. It's all very exciting. (Did I mention that it's free?) We highly recommend the newest Watercolor Artist production, Jeanette Pasin Sloan: Inside the Artist's Studio. Sloan has graciously invited us to share an exclusive gallery of paintings with you. Watch as a painting progresses from start to finish and take a look inside her studio. You won't find anything like this anywhere else. (And it's free!) Check out the April issue of the magazine for a feature on Sloan's work. Her story is as inspiring as it is thought provoking--a true reflection of her work.
From the Magazine
2/21/2008 12:39:22 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Watercolors Gone Wild
Posted by jessica
 Congratulations to watercolor artist Sally Robertson for creating the poster image for the 2008 Pacific Orchid Exposition (happening next weekend in San Francisco, California). The artist says she’ll be exhibiting her new orchid watercolors at the expo. For those of you keeping score, Robertson’s gorgeous floral paintings were also featured in the February 2008 issue of Watercolor Artist (“Poetry in Petals,” by Christine Proskow). Click here to see the work of other artists who paint their gardens.
From the Magazine | Overheard
2/20/2008 3:35:25 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Milford Zornes Celebrates 100th Birthday
Posted by jessica
Our thanks goes to Tom Fong (one of the featured artists in Watercolor Magic’s April 2007 issue) for sharing these photos from Milford Zornes’ centennial celebration held last Saturday at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. A popular workshop instructor himself, Fong was delighted to be in attendance; Zornes was his own first workshop instructor. “At the age of 100 years and one day old … wow!” writes Fong. “He did a wonderful full sheet demonstration. Some gentleman purchased it for $6,500, and Milford donated the money to the Pasadena Museum of California Art.” That is certainly something to celebrate. The festivities included a demonstration by Zornes,
some very colorful confections (his own painting reproduced on a cake!),
and the finished painting that went for $6,500, which Zornes donated to the museum.
From the Magazine | Overheard
1/30/2008 9:29:41 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Send Us Your Creativity Workshop Entries
Posted by jessica
 In our February issue, Melissa Adkison shares how to bring creativity into our portraits—and challenges us to do so in our own work. If you haven't already sent us your work, there's still plenty of time to get cracking. The deadline is Feb. 20. Activity:
Choose a subject that inspires you from a photo or from life.
Decide what you want to say about this person, about yourself or life in general. What attracts you to this subject? Is it personal, or as simple as a red scarf? Use the answers to create a story with a theme.
Brainstorm different ways you could express your theme. Read, investigate and open your mind to the possibilities of expression. Remember that you are telling a story. Once you’ve organized your thoughts and ideas, you’re ready to plan and draw your composition. Think about color, value and contrast. Try painting with gouache, if you like. Let the painting tell you what it needs. You can easily add or take away elements with this medium. Have fun!Send a slide, photograph or a disc containing a digital image of your painting to Watercolor Artist, Creativity Workshop, Enlivened Portrait Activity, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati OH 45236. (Note: include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you’d like us to return your submission.) We’ll publish a selection of entries on our website.
See the results from the October 2007 issue's Creativity Workshop here.
Pictured: Adkison's Rose Colored Glasses (gouache on paper, 36x25)
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
1/16/2008 1:35:27 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, January 07, 2008
Updates on the International Invitational Watermedia Exhibition
Posted by jessica
As we mentioned in the February issue of the magazine, the first Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters opened Nov. 19 in Nanjing, China, marking the first formal international event of its kind in the country. Cheng-Khee Chee was asked to nominate the American artists who would participate; below is part of a letter he sent to them after he returned to the U.S. from China. How we wish we could’ve attended!
After recuperating for a few days, I am ready to report all the excitement I experienced in China. The following are some highlights.
The welcoming banquet, 6 p.m. Monday night, Nov. 19
The banquet was attended by about 80 people, including exhibiting artists, invited artists, officials of the Jiangsu Union of Literature and Fine Arts, the Jiangsu Watercolor Research Institute and government dignitaries. As always, the banquet was an elaborate feast of 12 courses.
The opening ceremony, 10 a.m. Tuesday morning, Nov. 20
The stage was set at the main entrance of the Nanjing Library, a magnificent ultra modern building. Guests of honor lined up in front of the long silk ribbon adorned with huge silk bouquets. Madam Yang Chengzhi, vice president of the Jiangsu Provincial International Cultural Exchange Association of China, delivered the opening remarks, followed by me representing the exhibiting artists. Twelve people cut the ribbon at the same time, and the show was officially opened. Several hundred visitors swarmed into the exhibition hall. The hall is large, well lit, and paintings were very professionally framed and presented. Paintings were grouped by continent: North America, Europe and Asia. The quality of works seems to vary quite a bit. Our [U.S.] section drew the most attention. It really stole the show!
The watermedia forum, 2-4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 20
About 40 artists, art historians and art critics participated in this forum. Topics included the responses to the show, exchange of ideas of the medium, future plans and supports for similar international activities, and prospects of the watercolor paintings in the future.
The exhibition catalog
The exhibition catalog is elegant! The reproduction quality is super! It is far beyond my expectation! It is sad to know that only 1,000 copies were printed. I understand the various provincial governmental agencies will take a cut of more than half of the edition. They take great pride of this publication and want to present them as handsome gifts.
The travel show planning
The response to the exhibition is overwhelming. Many organizations are already requesting for the show to travel to their areas. After Nanjing, the exhibition will travel to Yangzhou, a historic as well as artistic city northeast of Nanjing. It is well known for the school of eight innovative painters in the Qing Dynasty. We are not sure what other cities the show will go to. Professor Li Chi-mao of the National Taiwan Fine Arts University, who was a guest of honor at the event, is planning to select about half of the show to travel to Taiwan at the end of the Mainland China circuit. It looks like the ball is just beginning to roll! This will give both the artists and the watercolor medium a great exposure.
Other activities, Nov. 21-22
The sightseeing trips included the Ming Tomb, the Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Monument, the Jiangsu Province Art Museum, a boat ride at night on the famous romantic Qinhuai River, and general city tours. I gave a slide presentation and demonstration at the School of Fine Arts of the South East University on Nov. 21.
The farewell banquet, Nov. 23
Most of the guests left. There were only about 20 artists, mostly from outside Mainland China, who attended the banquet. Everyone sat at the same huge round table. It was a warm and cozy atmosphere. As always, the dinner was a 12-course feast!
From the Magazine | Reviews
1/7/2008 12:00:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Online Philanthropy for the Holidays
Posted by jessica
 We included an item about DonorsChoose.org in our December issue. For those who missed it, the site is a fund-raising entity for public schools. The way it works: Teachers request donations for specific projects (books, art supplies, technology or other resources), DonorsChoose posts them on the site, visitors decide which one(s) they want to support and with the click of a button, the donation is complete. Need inspiration? Arts Journalist Tyler Green is featuring on his Modern Art Notes blog one arts-related project each day from now until Christmas. Or you might be inclined to take on Apple Computer, the Cult of Mac Blog and Claire Danes’ challenge. You can search for projects to fund by subject, region, type of teacher, the amount needed to complete the donation, type of school, type of resources needed and student profiles. I typed in “art” this morning and got 1,000 possibilities; an advanced search within “visual art” yielded 713 options. The best part? Each project tells you how many children will be impacted, and whether these materials will be used by future students.
From the Magazine
12/12/2007 10:48:15 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Friday, December 07, 2007
Mark Your Calendars
Posted by Kelly
Don't miss these exciting events in early 2008: Dallas, TexasDallas Museum of Art’s exhibition, J.M.W. Turner, features approximately 140 works, divided almost evenly between oils and works on paper—the most comprehensive retrospective presented in the United States of the artist’s career. February 10-May 18. Los AngelesThe Geffen Contemporary at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles reopens with © Murakami, a 90-plus piece retrospective of the artist’s career. Through February 11.  Washington, D.C.The Smithsonian American Art Museum presents Color as Field: American Painting, 1950–1975, a full-scale examination of the sources, meaning and impact of the Color Field movement, with 40 paintings by artists such as Gene Davis, Larry Poons, Frank Stella, Helen Frankenthaler (her painting Small's Paradise is at right) and more. February 29-May 26. Find more must-see shows in our February issue.
From the Magazine | Overheard
12/7/2007 12:26:40 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, December 03, 2007
Steve Mumford in Cincinnati
Posted by jessica
 I was pleasantly surprised Friday night to come across watercolors and sketches by Steve Mumford—the combat artist featured in our August issue—here in Cincinnati. My husband and I stopped by Publico (as part of the Final Friday Gallery walk in Over-the-Rhine), which was already on my not-to-be-missed gallery list as I read that this opening was to be its last. The exhibition sounded intriguing: Local Color, featuring four individual artists and one group of artists, focuses on regionalism and how one’s surroundings impact her art. And the show (on view through Dec. 30.) is great, especially the paper collages by Stephen Eichhorn, but seeing Mumford’s sketches and paintings of the war in Iraq in person is truly something spectacular. (Shown here is Pool of Oil at 299 Engineers Base (ink and watercolor on paper, 13½x11).) I also found a video of Mumford during his last trip to Baghdad. It’s a great look at the artist’s daily life on the front lines. Update: Publico gallery owner Paul Coors says it's not the final show, but the final regular show. The gallery will be closing after its five-year anniversary show and a series of events at the end of January.
From the Magazine
12/3/2007 1:25:50 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Friday, November 30, 2007
Milford Zornes Turns 100 in 2008
Posted by Kelly
 I first had the pleasure of talking to Milford Zornes when I interviewed him for a feature in the Winter 2002 issue of the magazine. His love of watercolor, painting, and creative expression in general, were evident in his every word. On January 25, Milford will turn 100. In celebration of this significant milestone, we're featuring the acclaimed artist again in the February 2008 issue of Watercolor Artist. Along with Phil Dike, Millard Sheets, George Gibson, Emil Kosa Jr., Barse Miller, Lee Blair, Dong Kingman and Hardie Gramatky, Milford was part of California’s premier regional school of art from the 1930s and early ’40s, known as the California Scene painters. “The California Scene painters were historically very important, not only because they documented the California countryside, but also because of the innovative approach they took to watercolor painting,” says Sandy Hunter, of the California Art Gallery in Laguna Beach, California. “These artists painted boldly and directly, with little or no pencil drawing; they used broad brushstrokes, and preferred a typically brown/ochre dominated palette.” This was in stark contrast to the more traditional, tightly rendered, delicately colored watercolor style American painters had inherited from the English.  To see more of Zornes' work, check out this video made by fellow artist, friend and gallery owner, Bill Anderson.
From the Magazine | Overheard
11/30/2007 11:43:48 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, November 21, 2007
A Thanksgiving Event for Watermedia Artists
Posted by sarah
 We hate to tease you with the February issue, if you haven't received it yet (it mails to subscribers this week) but one of our feature artists, Sally Robertson, will be taking part in a special Thanksgiving event for artists this weekend. We wanted to be sure to get it on your radars in time. Though we've never seen them for ourselves, we can attest to the remarkable beauty of Robertson's gardens and garden studio: She sent us many gorgeous photographs, several of which we were thrilled to publish in the magazine. If you happen to be in the Coastal Marin area, consider stopping by this Open Studio event. If you're like me and you haven't done a whit of holiday shopping, it could be just the thing. Besides, who among us wouldn't enjoy luxuriating in more than 50 varieties of roses and the paintings they inspire?
From the Magazine | Overheard
11/21/2007 11:02:40 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Monday, November 19, 2007
First Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters
Posted by jessica
 As you’ll read in our February issue, which is currently making its way out to subscribers, the first Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters opens today in Nanjing, China, marking the first formal international event of its kind in the country. Cheng-Khee Chee, who met some fellow watercolorists from the Jiangsu Watercolor Society when his solo exhibition made a stop in Nanjing in 1987, was selected to nominate United States artists to take part in the event. (Hi s Koi 2003 No. 10 (22x30) is pictured here.) Click here for Chee’s behind-the-scenes account of the show (which remains on display through Dec. 2). Update (1/8/08) : Click here for Chee's thoughts on the show.
From the Magazine
11/19/2007 9:53:26 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Friday, November 16, 2007
New Name, New Issue, New Web Address
Posted by kelly
 Exciting News! Starting with the February 2008 issue, Watercolor Magic will now be called Watercolor Artist. I know a lot of you have grown attached to "the Magic" in the past 15 years. Believe me, we didn't make the decision to change the name lightly. Rest assured, you'll still find all your favorite columns, as well as the inspiring stories and helpful tips and techniques from your favorite painters that you've come to expect. But, while the magazine will still celebrate the magic of watercolor, the new name puts the focus where it rightfully belongs—on you, the artist. Be sure to bookmark our new address today, and join us in this exciting new chapter of the magazine's history!
From the Magazine
11/16/2007 4:01:56 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Watercolor Magic 2007 CD Archive
Posted by jessica
 As we promised in the Artists Network newsletter Tuesday, the Watercolor Magic 2007 CD archive is now available. Same enhanced PDF format as the 2006 Issues on CD, same principle: You can pop the CD into your computer, and with the click of your mouse go directly to the issue you want to open. Once in the document, you can further explore ideas, topics, people and places mentioned in the magazine by clicking on hotlinked websites—meaning you go right online to the site. Also convenient is a comprehensive subject index; all content is fully searchable. So what don’t these wonderful CDs do, you ask? They don’t play music, so we wouldn’t recommend testing them out in your car stereo. Get yours now at our online store.
From the Magazine | Overheard
11/14/2007 10:10:26 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Watercolor Magic 2006 Issues on CD
Posted by jessica
 It happens all the time: You’re having trouble with a passage in your painting inspired by New England architecture, and you remember reading a particularly helpful Watercolor Magic article on painting details in buildings. Exactly when that was published, you haven’t a clue, and your stack of archives is as tall as your desk. Help is on the way. For reasons such as this, we’ve just put all of our 2006 issues on one CD—so now you can save both time and space, instantly accessing the entire year’s worth of articles and advice. Just pop the CD into your computer, click on the issue you want to open, and go directly to a specific article by clicking on the respective bookmark.  Other pluses: The articles are printable for your own reference or sharing with friends; websites are hot-linked, thus allowing you to click on them and go directly online; and a comprehensive subject index makes the content fully searchable. They’re available now at our online back issue store for $19.96. Click here for details. By the way, that column, “More Than Bricks and Mortar,” by Mark Willenbrink, ran in the April 2006 issue.
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
10/24/2007 10:15:09 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Monday, October 15, 2007
Get Inspired AND See Your Creativity Workshop Activity in Watercolor Magic
Posted by sarah
 We debuted our new Creativity Workshop column a few months ago with a challenge from Nita Leland and since then we've been watching our mailbox for news from our readers. We've already published four paintings inspired by the first installation of the column on our website. And now we're sifting through the submissions inspired by Cathy Johnson's Creativity Workshop Activity (appearing in the December issue of the magazine). If you haven't already sent us your work, there's still plenty of time to get cracking. The deadline is December 20, 2007. Johnson challenges us to simplify, simplify with her activity:
Use Color as a ToolOne way to simplify your work is to let color do it for you. Just because your subject may contain all the colors of the rainbow in a dozen different variations, doesn’t mean you have to paint it that way. Decide which colors dominate the scene, and eliminate most of the others. Let color give your work punch; let it create a mood, whether festive or serene. Be creative with color and choose those that expresses your mood. Just remember to keep it simple. Choose a monochromatic color scheme, with tints and shades (lights and darks) of a single color; try an analogous color, with colors that are next to one another on the color wheel; or use the complements by letting them vibrate against one another, or by muting them through mixing.
Send
a slide, photograph or a disc containing a digital image of your
painting to Watercolor Magic, Creativity Workshop, Simplification
Activity, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati OH 45236. (Note: include a
self-addressed, stamped envelope if you’d like us to return your
submission.)
Cathy Johnson's Missouri Landscape, Fall is pictured above.
From the Magazine
10/15/2007 9:41:45 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, October 12, 2007
Steve Mumford Sketches the War in Iraq
Posted by Kelly
 New York artist Steve Mumford originally went to Baghdad in 2003, making four trips in all during that year and the next. Embedded with the U.S. military, he kept a journal and made countless drawings and watercolors of what he saw there. In early 2007 he returned to Iraq, where he worked at an army hospital for approximately a month. During his stay, he documented the heroic efforts of the doctors, nurses and medics to save lives, both U.S. and Iraqi. "The scenes from the 28 CSH [the 28th Combat Support Hospital] are some of the most moving I've experienced and tried to draw from all my trips to Iraq," says Mumford. "The deaths leave a deep impression, yet it's the soldiers who survive, and the staff who keep these lives from slipping away, that define the day-to-day experience here. But I feel that beneath the cheer in their sharp, young faces is a lingering sadness, an understanding that the scars of the survivors can never be erased. The scars of the hospital staff aren't visible but occasionally the hurt contributes, in their daily actions, to something like a state of grace." We were pleased to bring you Mumford's story of his first four trips to Iraq in our August issue. You can see his latest drawings and journal entries from the war zone on artnet.com. Image from artnet.com.
From the Magazine | Overheard
10/12/2007 11:09:30 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Announcing the 2007 Ones to Watch
Posted by jessica
 Having just received a phone call from one of the artists featured in our December issue—a “One to Watch,” no less—I’m reminded that we haven’t yet announced the artists here. As in the past, we asked the country’s most popular watercolor instructors and competition jurors (back in March) to nominate those artists whose work was turning heads. We then contacted the nominees, asking them to submit images for consideration in the piece, and a month or so later we spent an entire day poring over the submissions. The WCM staff picked our 10 favorites, and voilà: the Ones to Watch. Congratulations to the 2007 artists: Sally H. Lambrecht
Peggy Morgan Stenmark
Suzann Marchin
Joyce “Kate” Stratton
Nancy Crawford
Jaimie Cordero
Robin Purcell (her painting, October Canyon (watercolor on paper, 21x14), is pictured) Zhong-Sheng Hao
Al Albrektson
Carol FryeLearn what caught the nominating instructors and competition jurors’ eye by clicking here. (The December issue is now on its way out to subscribers, and will be on newsstands in mid-October; non-subscribers can order by clicking here.)
From the Magazine | Overheard
9/19/2007 11:54:54 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Watercolor Society Showcase in the Works
Posted by jessica
Though it hardly seems possible, we’re currently preparing our annual Watercolor Society Winners’ Showcase feature—which will run in the January/February issue—wherein we publish the winning paintings from a year’s worth of watercolor society competitions, plus some conversations with winning artists from the larger societies. It’s my personal pleasure to get to chat with these artists and learn about the stories behind their award-winning works, their techniques and inspiration. I found this video of the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies’ 32nd annual exhibition/16th annual Colorado Watercolor Society’s State Watermedia Exhibition just a few minutes ago. It’s a great behind-the-scenes look at what goes into putting one of these shows together. Look for our February issue on newsstands Dec. 11!
From the Magazine | Overheard
9/12/2007 11:01:08 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Make Your Own Giclée Prints
Posted by jessica
  In addition to offering a free, downloadable lesson on working with Photoshop software, we’ve posted our October issue special report—Maggie Latham’s guide to creating your own giclée prints— here in its entirety. For those artists intimidated by technology, the artist insists that just a few years ago she couldn’t even send an e-mail. And today, a good portion of her earnings comes from the sale of her miniature prints, greeting cards and sometimes posters. Take Latham’s advice and revolutionize your own career. Maggie Latham, Evening Light
(watercolor on paper, 11x14)
From the Magazine | Tips and Tools
9/5/2007 3:42:51 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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Friday, August 31, 2007
Art on Film
Posted by Kelly
As any Bond nut will testify, the scene in Dr. No where Bond Girl Ursula Andress emerges from the water was inspired by Sandro Boticelli's The Birth of Venus. And, as Chuck Sambuchino points out in the October issue, it doesn't take an art historian to recognize the connection between Edvard Munch's expressionist painting The Scream and Wes Craven's Scream trilogy and it's villian's elongated rubber mask.
But sometimes the artistic references aren't so obvious. Movies are filled with subtle homages to famous paintings. Blade Runner (1982), often cited as a masterpiece of art direction and film noir, owes its look to the urban images of Edward Hopper, specfically Nighthawks. " I was constantly waving a reproduction of this painting under the noses of the production team to illustrate the look and mood I was after in Blade Runner, says director Ridley Scott in Paul M. Sammon's book Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner.
So as you head out to the movies this weekend, keep your eyes peeled for subtle and not-so-subtle tributes to your favorite artists and paintings. If you find any, we'd love to hear about it. 8/31/2007 3:49:08 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
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