Why Watercolor?

We Ask Ten Top Painters

Caique Oarsman 14 x 20” 1886 (PD US) Anders Zorn

Interest in painting in watercolor has perhaps never been stronger. No longer stigmatized as only a “sketch” medium, serious artists are constantly pushing the boundaries of what watercolor can be. From dancing, vibrating, light-filled passages to richly colored transparent darks, from cascading wet washes to staccato dry brush effects, watercolors can produce painting effects which no other medium can match. In the hands of a Master, a rapidly executed watercolor thrills with its immediacy, energy and sheer boldness. What may appear simple in execution can take years to perfect, and this quality often discourages all but those artists who have the determination and discipline to undertake the challenge of learning to paint in watercolor. We asked ten top professionals of the medium three important questions:

1. Why watercolor? What is it about watercolor that has made it your medium of choice?

2. What is the one …