It's (Still) Just Watercolor! Using watercolor’s unique attributes to master composition

70 pages

I am convinced that composition trumps technique in visual art. This not to suggest that technique is unimportant - it is vitally important. But a piece poor in technique can still be compelling if its composition is strong. The opposite is not true. Indeed, artwork that demonstrates great talent but is bereft of a solid compositional foundation is best described as saccharine. Composition is why the works of Jackson Pollock or Mark Rothko are so moving to so many. Composition is the answer to the dismissive comment that “my four year old could do that”. No, they could not, at least not compositionally. Mastering composition is, therefore, essential to creating artwork that sings.

The nature of watercolor lends itself nicely to good compositions. Properly executed, watercolor is wild and even elusive. You learn to work with it rather than try (and fail) to control it. If you embrace that aspect of watercolor, your watercolor paintings will improve dramatically and quickly. More so, you’ll come to enjoy watercolor in such a way that it will bring you back to the palette again and again.

If you embrace watercolor and its idiosyncrasies, you simultaneously give up considerable control: pigment bleeds out of line, blossoms bloom where you least expect or want them, and colors blend so seamlessly that the blue to red variegated wash you really wanted for your sunset turns completely purple. Under such a painting environment, the strength of your composition becomes paramount, because viewers cannot be distracted by how good of a painter you seem to be.

To do so, we’re going to appeal to a time tested approach: the principles and elements of two dimensional design. Design principles guide how the artist deploys design elements. Design elements are the building blocks the artist employs to manifest their vision.

This workbook will guide you through the fundamentals of two-dimensional design, empowering you to tell a cohesive story with your art and connect emotionally with your viewers.