Why watercolor

Many fine artists work in oil, or acrylic, not so many choose watercolor. Perhaps it seems elementary. When most people think about watercolor they envision a primary and secondary colors in a bright, skinny Crayola tin. People always seem shocked when they see my tubes of watercolor or drip jars of liquid.

The thing that draws me most to watercolor is it’s freedom. Artist Naomi Tydeman said, "Watercolour never ceases to amaze me. It's unpredictable, spontaneous, independent, adamant and willful and you have to be in a state of extreme alertness - to make snap decisions, to take risks, to not be afraid to lose something. To accept what's given and work with it. To let. To watch. To be very present.” I couldn’t put it any better. I’m on the edge of my seat watching it create its own beauty. I simply have to show up, trust my hands, and wait in anticipation.

Watercolor is where I feel free to play. It feels less permanent and more fluid (pun intended). It’s something I can set up with my kids and we can paint together. Watercolor a way for me to decompress and zone out, letting go of reality for a moment in order to heal.