Although watercolour painting appeared in China as early as the beginning of the second century, transparent watercolours were only used in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Even then, they did not receive the attention they deserved — European artists mainly preferred to paint in oils. This attitude finally changed at the end of the 19th century, when masters such as Paul Cézanne, Maurice Prendergast and Wassily Kandinsky took up watercolour painting. Watercolour is still considered the most difficult technique in painting — we tell you about contemporary watercolourists who have mastered it to perfection and learned to create works of incredible beauty.
Joseph Zbukvic
Joseph Zbukwicz is one of the world’s best contemporary watercolourists. He was born in Zagreb, but in 1970, when he was 18, he moved with his parents to Australia due to the unrest in the country at that time, where he still lives today. When asked about the secret of his success in interviews, he always replied, ‘I never paint for sale, I always paint for myself.’ His works can be seen in many leading art galleries around the world, and there is even an art museum named after him in his native Zagreb. Zbukvic loves to share his skills with aspiring artists and often participates in master classes. www.josephzbukvic.com
Mary Whyte
Famous American artist Mary White has two favourite techniques — oil and watercolour — but it is her watercolour portraits that have brought her fame and recognition. Mary White paints different people in everyday situations. She creates a ‘gallery of faces of modern America’ — her paintings are always bright and lively, with subtly conveyed emotions. White pays great attention in her work to the culture of the contemporary African American community. In 1991, when she was 38, she and her husband moved from her native Ohio to the coast of South Carolina, where she befriended local African Americans, many of whom were descendants of slaves. Their lives, customs, and daily routines inspired White so much that she created a whole series of portraits of local black residents. These paintings became the artist’s calling card. http://marywhyte.com/
Thierry Duval
Paris and Venice are the main sources of inspiration for French watercolourist Thierry Duval. His urban morning landscapes are so realistic that they are sometimes difficult to distinguish from photographs. Duval’s watercolours are imbued with romanticism, charm and light: “When I paint, my goal is to be as sincere and honest as possible. I want to give the viewer the opportunity to immerse themselves in my paintings and travel in their silence and calm atmosphere. Perhaps perfection is my highest goal, but fortunately, it is unattainable. So I just hope to keep trying.”
Valentina Verlato
The Italian artist graduated from the Faculty of Literature at the University of Padua and then decided that she would pursue a career in painting rather than literature, as she had been drawing since childhood. In her calm, contemplative paintings, she depicts spring meadows, sea shores, wild flowers and cosy Italian cafés. Her watercolour works can be viewed endlessly; they seem to be able to stop time and transport the viewer to a world filled with harmony and tranquillity — exactly what we all need so much right now. www.valentinaverlato.com
