WELL -KNOWN WAT E R C O L O R A RT I S T S C R E A T E D B Y D E B O R A H Y. S T R A U S S , D . V. M .
• Watercolor is one of the most simple forms of fine art when it comes to supplies, but one of the most difficult forms to master.
• Watercolor painters are most known for their abilities to see detail in the ordinary and for their understanding of how color works individually and in collaboration with one another.
• If you ever want to experiment with watercolors yourself, here is a list of painters that you should emulate that have been widely recognized as masters of the art form…
• First is J.M.W. Turner, who discovered watercolor as a medium for plein air painting in the late 1700s.
• Turner painted mostly expressive paintings of the European countryside and ocean, which “anticipated the Impressionist movement by over 50 years and turned landscape painting into a vital discipline where it had previously been the domain of amateur naturalists and hobbyists,” (Heaston, Discover the Great Watercolor Artists).
• Another well-known British watercolor expert is James McNeill Whistler, recognized for his use of short brush stroked and small dabs of color - the antithesis of his oil paintings, many of which you probably know.
• Whistler could always be found sketching images of everyday life wherever he was, and used those sketches as the basis for his beautiful paintings.
• Winslow Homer is one of the most important watercolor artists in the 19th century.
• He was “a largely self-taught painter who embraced watercolor so thoroughly for his many landscapes, seascapes and scenes of everyday life in 19th century America,” (Heaston, Discover the Great Watercolor Artists).
• Many contemporary artists interested in watercolor often look at Homer’s works for inspiration.
• Another great artist, especially known for her creativity and attentiveness with watercolors, is Georgia O’Keeffe.
• After moving to a the rural environment of New Mexico, O’Keeffe often used vibrant colors and light in her paintings as a reflection of the atmosphere she was surrounded by.
• Last on this list is Jamie Wyeth, an American painter who often used drypoint watercolors in her work.
• Drypoint watercolors means that very little water is used throughout the painting process.
• Wyeth’s parents were both widely recognized painters in America, and many of his paintings reflect scenes of New England that you can be witness to today.
• It is clear that throughout the years watercolor has be used to create beautiful works that display a time, place, and emotion of a painter - something that we can still commemorate as we discover new artists and our own unique appreciation for watercolors.