Jorge Corpuna shared his favorite watercolor tips and techniques:

Here’s a Q&A with Jorge:

Why do you make art?
It’s a way of feeling useful as a human being in this world. I share a little of me and my happiness when I’m painting.

How long have you been painting?
I have been painting since the age of five, and my passion for painting is still alive today.

Did you have formal art training?
I studied sculptural art at the Escuela Nacional de Arte Carlos Baca Flor in Arequipa, Peru. I specialize lately in watercolor.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
I paint full time. It’s a laborious job, but very pleasant!

What inspires you?
My inspiration is nature, the energies that inhabit it and life itself.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?
Usually I paint outdoors in a rural environment. I like to listen to nature.

Have you had a mentor?
I learned from many friends and teachers during my studies in Arequipa, however it was my friend Nicolás Lopez who guided me on this current path of painting.

Do you paint every day?
I try – painting every day would be ideal. But I also like to travel in search of new ideas and inspiration. Many days I go up into the mountains to make notes and then come back to paint them in my studio.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?
Only one piece at a time, because each has its own personality. Each piece is born out of almost nothing and is transformed according to the emotion of the moment. It grows with its own life and unassuming aesthetic, until it screams at you…I’m ready!

Do you create a concept piece first?
There are some pieces that need the concept developed first and others that create their own language at birth.

Do you prefer painting in studio or en plein air?
Usually I paint outdoors, I enjoy being in nature. I use my studio to experiment with larger formats with the help of previous notes.

How many core colors do you use?
I usually use these 14 colors: Hansa Yellow Light, Hansa Yellow Medium, Permanent Orange, Organic Vermilion, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Indigo, Viridian, Sap Green, Burnt Umber, Sepia, Cerulean, Lavender, Titanium White.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
I use all three, depending on the image – but I prefer the tubes.

Do you use masking fluid?
Only for some lights that are difficult to preserve with the brush.

When do you know that your piece is finished?
When I am satisfied that what is shown describes the landscape well, conveying the senses with impressionistic brushstrokes.

••••••••••

Join us online each week via Zoom or Facebook for an Up Close and Personal Conversation with John Cogley (Daniel Smith Owner and CEO) along with guest artists from around the world. On Thursdays (2:00pm Pacific), John highlights various features of our products and answers your questions. On Fridays (10:30am Pacific), a guest artist shares a demo with their favorite tips and techniques. Click here for the upcoming week’s Zoom links.

If you prefer, you can visit our Facebook page at showtime to watch live. Replays can be watched on Facebook or YouTube. La traducción al español está disponible – selecciona el canal en español en Zoom.