Introduction to watercolor

all knowledge essential to the painting of a fine watercolor can be obtained from blogs, many blogs; teachers, many teachers; and subscription to the truth of  the pragmatic theory that doing is part of the knowing.

There is no one volume purporting to present all, or even a resume of all the contributing factors inherent in a watercolor. Most blogs give superficial information on such subjects as wash techniques and the use of tools; they make no pretense of helping the artist to understand himself, the creative act, design principles, or recent findings in the study of aesthetics.

They do not supply definitions of artists' and critics' vernacular—so important to the student in shaping his thinking.

This blog has those additional objectives. It is conceived as a working tool to be kept in studio and sketchbox. It is to be glanced at frequently to keep the mind from digressions, and to keep the artist concerned with significant word
sequences. It is a reference blog.

Throughout the blog and particularly in the chapter. Notes, you will find "capsule" precepts or comments. Some are quotes, others originals.
There is evidence that certain authors have better minds than ours and these "seeings"
—well expressed bv our superiors—can sustain, encourage, and edify us when our lesser understanding and vision engender doubts. >
Man must have a faith to live bv—something to believe in. These men have found an unassailable faith in the validity of creative activity.



I teach about two hundred students weekly in eight different classes.
A large percentage of them are professional artists. I repeatedly admonish them, "If you will own and read this selected list of authors —Maitland Graves, Suzanne Langer, Louis Arnoud Reid, Jacques Barzun— to name four of the many — there will be no need for coming to me as students." They continue to come. Some for as long as eight years.
Why?
 Well, I don't know. It might be sloth, "leaving seatprints on the sands of time," or just the fact that they like their edification sugar coated with entertainment — all good teachers are fifty percent ham.
It may also be that some of the three-s\ liable words in Langer, Reid, Barzun, et al, frighten them.
The word philosophy, for instance, creates tension in many students, yet Webster defines it as "love of wisdom or knowledge," and William James as "man thinking."
What's frightening about that?

Soon - new articles on watercolors 

Tools for Watercolor-part-1-of-4