I’ve been painting since my childhood. I did my first oil painting in the 4th grade. Since then, I’ve gravitated towards acrylics, and mediums I felt like I could “control.” I’ve always struggled with watercolors because of this.
It’s interesting, I have two framed artworks from my niblings (niece and nephew)—watercolor pieces they created as toddlers. And to see them hanging up brings me joy, and perhaps some inspiration. It’s delightful to see that they are able to create something so beautiful, flowing, and beyond the grips of control, or what they think it should look like.
So over the pandemic, as I spent time at home, I decided to try to take on this watercolor challenge again. Before, it was kinda unnerving to watch the pigment spread in whichever way the water decided. I didn’t like that. I felt like it had to bend and bloom to my idealizations of the perfect watercolor painting that I saw on Pinterest. Don’t get me wrong, I know that technique matters. But this was an exercise in release for me. Here’s what I made.
Photo of an abstract 18 x 24 watercolor with hues of orange, violet, and blue, forming tiny sections of organic shapes
Three watercolor paintings, one of a prickly pear cactus, a coffee cup and saucer in the middle, and a collection of sage-y stems on the right
An image of a watercolor painting with purple and orange florals