Watercolor painting tradition
Watercolor painting is one of the most beautiful and oldest strands of artistic creation. It is assumed that its appearance is parallel to the invention of paper and the brushes made with rabbit fur, over 2000 years ago, although only in 1550 John White, in charge of registering the customs and lives of the New World (at the Sir Walter Releigth’s expedition) is appointed as its major “driver”.
During the XVIII century, watercolor painting began to be recognized as the “English Art”, emerging names like Alexander Cozens, William Blake, John Constable and the unparalleled William Turner, who produced about 2,000 watercolors, conquering the title of the largest watercolourist of all times.
In case you need inspiration, we have prepared a list of the most memorable watercolor paintings:
Albrecht Durer
Although its invention is very previous to that time, the great expansion of watercolors took place during the Renaissance period. Albrecht Dürer was the most influential Nordic Renaissance painter, and regarded as the greatest master of watercolor technique, especially in landscape’s representations.
Dry dock at Hallertürlein, Nuremberg
J.M.William Turner
William Turner is considered by many one of the precursor of modernity, thanks to his studies on the relation between color and light. Turner was a pretty bold artist, having created more than 500 oil paintings, 30,000 drawings on paper and 2,000 watercolors.
Venice, Looking East from the Guidecca: Sunrise
James McNeill Whistler
World-renowned for the portrait of his own mother, James Abbott McNeill Whistler is another american painter, although established in the United Kingdom, who largely explored the potential of watercolor painting.
Flower Market
Winslow Homer
Probably the most important watercolourist of the XIX century, Homer represented typical american landscapes and everyday life moments. The credibility that the painter gave to watercolor painting led many contemporary artist to want to try it too.
Blue Boat
Paul Klee
Phased influenced by expressionism, cubism and surrealism, Klee was an amazing draftsman, who explored and manipulated intensively the color. Having also explored the abstract concept, Klee turned to watercolor painting at that phase. His work reflects his particular humor and also his childish perspectives.
Garden of the European Colony of Saint-Germain in Tunish
Edward Hopper
The american painter and illustrator is well-known for his mysterious artworks, who pretend to be a representation of the “contemporary loneliness”. Strongly influenced by Freud and Bergson, Hopper repeatedly uses urban landscapes in an opposite direction than expected. Instead of the characteristic bustle of the urban scene, Hopper’s creations are dominated by a “silence” that is almost disturbing. In his watercolor experiences, the artist was interested in exploring the characteristics of light.
Sun on Prospect Street
Andrew Wyeth
The contemporary american painter often paints with drypoint watercolors, where very little water is used. Son of Andrew Wyeth and grandson of N.C. Wyeth, both admired painters, Wyeth seeks to reproduce reality with extreme accuracy.
Olsen’s
