Peter McDonald fell in love with watercolor at first brush stroke but he has never considered himself a traditionalist. Over many years he has developed a style using intricate black and white line work to define his abstract paintings and create a new way of seeing the medium earning him recognition with numerous awards. “I want you to see watercolor in a different way,” he says. “I’m asking you to get up close and personal with the work, to see the magic of the medium. “Beginning with a base of poured color, I use line to draw attention to those wonderful areas of transparency and chameleon trickery which aren’t seen or overlooked at a distance....The challenge, of course, is to draw the viewer in.” The typical reaction the Australian born artist get to his work is: “I’ve never seen anything like this.” He credits such mentors as abstract-impressionist, the late Alex Vilumson. and iconic watercolorists Fealing Lin and Tom Fong for shaping his talent. “Alex encouraged me to find my own path,” he ex- plains. “Fealing gave me everything I know about watercolor and she and Tom gave me the courage to take risks and have fun doing it. ‘If you’re not having fun,’ Tom told me, ‘then why paint!’ ” The Los Angeles based artist is a three time winner of the Pasadena Society of Artists’ Yoko Cohen Award and has twice won the Valley Watercolor Society’s Top Honor award. Other honors include the National Watercolor Society’s Frode Dan Award. “Peter’s talent and professionalism is what makes galleries work,” says Bill Knaurer, manager of The Cove Gallery in Laguna Beach which represented the artist for many years. Click images below to enlarge.
A sample of Pete's work on mineral paper. Click to enlarge.
I began my watercolor interest taking classes with Robert Uecker in the early 80’s. He always emphasized that every stroke counted, in other words do not over work your work. I painted in Manzanar with Henry Fukuhara, experienced wonderful workshop trips to Mt. Carmel, Utah, Canyon de Chelly with Milford Zornes along with many fine artists. Also, I had the opportunity to attend workshops with some of the finest Watercolor Painters of the day. In 2008 I was chosen as “One to Watch” ( Watercolor artist Magazine). I am beginning my 16th year serving on the Watercolor West Board of Directors. I hold Signature Membership in the following Organizations: American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society, California Watercolor Association, San Diego Watercolor Society, Watercolor West (Master). 2014, I was selected “Artist of the Year” by Chaffey Community Museum of Art. 2015, Exhibited work in the NWS/China Exchange Exhibition. 2015-1016 Participated in an International Small Image Exchange Exhibit in conjunction with the Shenzhen International Watercolor Biannual and NWS. JoAnnFormia.com A sampling of JoAnn's work. Click to enlarge.
Award-winning watercolorist, Fealing Lin of San Marino, California, was born in Taiwan and began her journey into artistic expression as a protégé of renowned professor Ching-Jung Chen in Taiwan, subsequently pursuing her career in the United States with watercolorist and senior art historian professor Verna Wells. With a fluidity of colors, Ms. Lin combines impressionistic strokes and semi-abstract techniques to elicit life and movement in her portrait and landscape watercolors. Her paintings adorn the paper with both harmony and emotion. Although briefly diverted from her passion by a family tradition of medicine and dentistry, Fealing ultimately abandoned her tray of instruments and high-speed drills in favor of her pallet and brushes. Now she is a teacher, demonstrator, judge, and active exhibitor. Said Professor William Blackshaw, President of the Royal Watercolor Society in England, "Fealing Lin paints poems that vibrate with light and color... long may she continue to delight the eye and move the spirit" "My passion for watercolor," says Ms. Lin, "comes from the opportunity it gives me to be totally spontaneous in the pursuit of traditional watercolor transparency which is the "glow" from the white paper that emerges through the paint once a fusion occurs from the application of wet onto wet. Fealing was an annual guest instructor at Yosemite National Park for more than ten years, an instructor at Brand Art Studios at Brand Library in Glendale, and San Gabriel Recreation center in San Gabriel. She was featured at Descanso Gardens Gallery for 10 consecutive years. She has taught watercolor workshops throughout California and the US. Fealing has been enthusiastically embraced by the general public and private collectors alike. Fealing is a signature member of National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Watercolor West, San Diego Watercolor Society and the Missouri Watercolor Society. Her works have been juried in many national exhibitions including NWS, WW, TWSA (Transparent Watercolor Society of America), Brand National, Audubon Artist, San Diego Watercolor International and many others. She has won numerous awards among these shows. Fealing's works also appear in many magazines and books, including Watercolor Magic, Artist Sketch Magazine, International Artist Magazine, Best Watercolor, and Splash (9, 10, 11,12 & 14). She is one of the 15 artists who have contributed to the new book Watercolor Secrets by North Light Books (2009). Her self-portrait is featured on the cover. fealingwater.com A sample of Fealling's work. Click to enlarge.
Richard E Scott is a painter, teacher and writer. Self-taught in drawing and watercolor, he paints outdoors and in the studio. His preferred subjects are architecture, gardens, still life and craft. His artworks have been published in various art and design magazines, periodicals and books. He teaches drawing and painting at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California, the Huntington in San Marino, California, and art workshops throughout the U.S. and Europe. For 20 years he has taught at numerous universities including Cal Poly Pomona, UCLA, Art Center, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UNLV. He has written for various art and design magazines and in 2013 published a compendium on drawing called “Sketching – from Square One to Trafalgar Square.” He resides in Pasadena, California. Below is the completed demonstration painting, and a slide show of Richard’s process. Jacksonsart.com in London
https://www.scottwatercolors.com/ December...is when we are treated to multiple demonstrations by our own MVAL members. This year's slate is listed below with a representative image: click to enlarge
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