I rely on instinct a great deal and endeavor not to imbue any false grandeur to the choices I make when working. The lion’s share of my work is done alla prima as my real struggle in painting is to capture the initial vision for any given piece. I am most often motivated by capturing a definitive lighting condition and how it influences shape and value, rather than faithfully representing the subject as witnessed. Watercolor is uniquely suited for this task as light is reserved from the first brush strokes and must be protected throughout the painting process. The underlying narrative in my work is not based on any theme in particular, but quite simply how “place” is inhabited and used daily. I often use remembered atmospheric and lighting conditions in my work and would say that I paint from life and memory simultaneously. My watercolors are not only a translation of what I see, but more importantly, an expression of how I choose to view the world.   —Iain Stewart