Watercolor paintings are in a league of their own! The charm they possess is undeniable. Painting with watercolors allows for very gentle and fluid transitions between colors. This quality makes such paintings quite magical. They have the ability to present the world through a soft lens with vivid or transparent colors, which have the ability to appear like a dream in motion. A masterwork of watercolors can portray people and landscapes in astonishingly life-like ways, as well.
Explore Watercolor Paintings
Often more beautiful than real life
Although there are pieces that are jaw-droppingly realistic, the real magic of aquarelle painting does not come from hyperrealism. For the most part, they encapsulate the subtlest, unexplainable beauty of our world. That beauty, which cannot be grasped with words. Magical moments and magical views that are beyond what the eyes can see. They hold something extra, something special and unique.
Artist’s Perspective: Ertan Alev
“The watercolor technique is magic in itself. It's a process of fighting water all the time, but that struggle is the most exciting of all the techniques for me. When I paint, I detach myself from reality and I only get that feeling with watercolor. I have only been painting watercolors for the past 2 years. I don't feel like painting with oils or acrylics as I used to. The emotion with the watercolor technique is indescribable, brief and final. The artist has to paint quickly without correcting much, and there is almost no going back.
Very often I start painting a sea, which in the process turns into a forest clearing…the struggle with the water is very strong. I confess that sometimes I let it take me to unfamiliar places and that's how some of my best paintings are born - unforced and innocent. The watercolorist is a magician who can create something beautiful with a few quick strokes.
It seems very easy, but it is actually quite difficult! Unfortunately, very often watercolor painting is not taken seriously. Many people associate it only with children's paint classes in primary school and so on. They don't realize that it is an extremely difficult technique. The materials used are high quality, and as such, the paintings are kept intact over the years. One might worry that the watercolor drawing will fade or change, but that is almost impossible because the materials are high end. I personally prefer Italian Fabriano Artistico paper and my paints of choice are from several brands - Sennelier (France), Rembrandt (Netherlands), W&N (UK), QOR (USA), PWC Shinhan (Korea), Rosa (Ukraine). The price of the materials is not inferior to oil and acrylic paints, and the same applies to brushes. My hope is that more people will understand the technique of painting with watercolors better, and consequently, appreciate its beauty and uniqueness.”
Artist’s Perspective: Dobra Kamburova
"Watercolor has been described as magic, but in my perception it is far more than that. The watercolor technique has been an active part of my daily life for nearly two years now. Prior to that I have worked with oil, acrylic, tempera paints, and in the field of graphic design. For me, watercolor painting is a serene retreat, a very personal message not only to the world but also to myself. A sacred watercolor confession. Sensitivity and personal emotions lead the way. In quite a few cases it can be like a whimsical child, a woman in love or a life fading away. Emotion is especially apparent with this technique, and it is not so much about what the artist wanted to tell you, but rather, what they wanted to make you feel, see, understand…
I love watercolors painted in one breath, without a preliminary sketch or pretension of something great. A watercolor artwork is a sky, a sigh and a precious heartbeat.
There are different ways to work with watercolors, the common thing is that they are almost unrepairable, which gives it that authenticity, airiness and charm.
To minimize the trace of time in my work, I use high quality materials - cotton paper and high-end watercolor paints and supplies of prestigious brands such as Schmincke Horadam, Daniel Smith and Saunders Waterford."
Watercolor paintings are the poetry of painting
Just like a great poem, they can express something that is very hard to explain to the logical mind. This is why they do not even try to communicate with it. They know this is a foreign language, a language that only the heart speaks. Only through the heart, can watercolor paintings be properly understood.
Water: the incredible element of watercolor painting
Watercolor artists (as the name suggests) use water to prime and prepare the canvas. This means that all of water’s qualities are transferred to the paint. It’s fluidity, it’s gentleness, it’s flexibility, it’s softness. An artist can incorporate these qualities into his work, to achieve amazing results. Paintings of high quality have a rich atmosphere that can be deeply felt and experienced, almost as if you’re actually there. Such works may have life-like clouds for example, that resemble a gentle motion - a product of the moving water through the canvas. The hues of their colors can be defined by the amount of water introduced to the mix. They can be lighter and transparent, or darker and fuller. Different combinations are commonly used for effects. Having multiple layers on a canvas with contrasting effects makes a painting come to life.
Having the subtle qualities of water also means that watercolors can be used for different kinds of paintings. By using these paints in a specific manner (minimal and/or controlled brushstrokes) some very light and pleasant visuals can be achieved. These are a great match for the abstract style and the minimalistic approach. Very gentle and feminine pieces often use similar techniques.
Watercolor is considered a master’s medium. A master can make the painting almost come alive. The colors may look radiant, ooze energy, and summon a genuine feeling and emotion. Their pieces can remind you of dreaming or viewing a memory inside of your mind. Such is the true magic of watercolor paintings.
