LET IT GO - I tell myself. Watercolor wants to do what it wants to do.

Have a look at these prints I created from my original watercolor and collage pieces.. I am so proud of these!

So proud of these that in fact, I framed them and hung them in my newly renovated bathroom. See that post here. I may also make these available in the shop soon.

I love the softness of watercolor. I want to become better and better at it so that I can create the images I see in my head.

Soft swirls, ambiguous lines, but not so ambiguous that you don’t understand what the image is.

And color! Color and the pigmented intensity of good quality watercolors. Be still my heart. I love color.

Working with watercolor is like working with a like minded artist. You have to let the paint and water do its work as much as you do the work.

It’s about patience and allowing for drying time and the lightening of washes.

Watercolor really does have a mind of its own and that’s why it is so hard to be a really good watercolor artist.

I keep working at it, trying to let things go as all the best watercolor artists do. LET IT GO - I tell myself. Watercolor wants to do what it wants to do.

These days I am working on something new that I can’t yet tell you about - but it does involve watercolor. And the images below give a hint as to what I am working on. ; )

So in this spirit, I wanted to tell you about a watercolor artist I am absolutely obsessed with these days.

Her name is Chihiro Iwasak and she lived from 1918 to 1975. I only wish I had discovered her earlier.

This artist has a full mastery of not only watercolor, but of what I call - “letting go”.

Source: Pinterest

Source: Pinterest

The simplicity of the work amazes me. You can see these are just simple brushstrokes, but she manages to evoke such beautiful images from those strokes.

If you know where I can find any of her books I would love to hear from you.

If you know of similar watercolor artists that inspire you - let me know.