Maestro Che shared his favorite palette and watercolor techniques:

Here’s a Q&A with Che:

Why do you make art?
I paint because I need to, it makes my soul happy when creating. Most days I’m lost in my own thoughts, thinking about my next painting or even staring at light and shadows around me.  When I’m at school, my students’ energy and creativity keep me excited, and I learned to keep it simple and not teach them everything all at once, but to slow it down…it’s a long school year.

How long have you been painting?
All my life – my first memory is staying in the classroom during recess to finish up a drawing. It wasn’t until high school that I was introduced to painting. My teacher was a watercolorist and she was the first person to introduce me to DANIEL SMITH products in the early 90’s. She was instrumental to why I love watercolor and one of the reasons I am a teaching artist today.

Did you have formal art training?
I went to Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle where I received my BA in Illustration and Design. While at Cornish, I got a job as an animator and stayed with them for over 12 years, until I bought my local boxing gym, Team Eastside MMA, which I operated for 10 years.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
I have been working and selling my art professionally since high school. I consider myself more of a teaching artist than anything else. I love to share what I know.

What inspires you?
At this point in my career, I frequently paint in plein air. I love the challenge of the unexpected – everything from the weather to the interesting people that I come across.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?
It all depends on my mood, I either listen to Howard Stern’s show, Mana or if I’m feeling extra, I go with Rage Against the Machine.

Have you had a mentor?
Not necessarily, but there are a lot of people who have inspired me. I’ve always just done a thing, and if I fail, I get back up and carry on. That’s how I live my life – like with boxing.

Do you paint every day?
I try to. Some days I’m just in my studio watching art videos or contemplating my next piece of work. When I’m at school, I’m either demonstrating or painting. While my students are working on a project, I try to always paint or draw – I do it so my students see how much work it takes to do something you love. It’s not easy, it takes hard work and dedication to build the skills to be successful at your craft.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?
Just one at a time, It’s hard for me these days to jump from one painting to another. I need to sit and finish it in one sitting if at all possible. Just like when playing my video games, I can’t remember all the different buttons for every game I play…could be because I’m old…

Do you create a concept piece first?
If it is a concept painting or commission, then yes. When I’m out and about, I spend time observing the environment around me. If I don’t have time to paint a larger piece, I will then sketch out some ideas and compositions for later on.

Do you prefer painting in studio or plein air?
In the summer I prefer plein air, but during the school year I paint in my classes or in my studio.

How many core colors do you use?
I use around 12 core colors in my palette and they haven’t changed in over ten years.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
Tubes and sticks – since it’s the same pigment, I carry both when on location.

When do you know that your piece is finished?
Usually when I ask myself that question. A friend of mine once told me, if I ever get the chance to have a studio, place picture shelves on the walls to display my work. Then step out for a while, or wait until the next day and take a look at it with fresh eyes. That has really helped me. Another rule I set for myself – once I sign it, I no longer can work on it. When painting in watercolor, the fewer washes you have, the fresher it looks.

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Join us online each week via Zoom or Facebook for an Up Close and Personal Conversation with John Cogley (Daniel Smith Owner and CEO) and 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 follows up to share how they incorporate those features into their art. Click here for the upcoming week’s Zoom links.

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