Join us online this Friday, May 31st at 10:30am to chat with watercolor artist Raquel Falk from Brazil – LIVE on Zoom and Facebook. Click here for log-in details and links.

Here’s a Q&A with Raquel:

Why do you make art?
In order to live my life with a purpose. Before I made art, I just used to survive.

How long have you been painting?
I have been painting for about five years.

Did you have formal art training?
Yes, I graduated in visual arts from Federal University, but in order to learn watercolor I had to take in-person courses, as well as online courses.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
I am an art educator, watercolor teacher and artist. Art is also a hobby, but now I use it to make money.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by the impressionist and post-impressionist periods, the history of art – and by the light, contrasts, textures and possibilities that a certain person, landscape or object brings me.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?
I love listening Chopin while I paint.

Have you had a mentor?
I’ve had some mentors, among them are Avelino and Eudes Correia.

Do you paint every day?
I don’t paint every day, but at least 5 times a week. When I do it, I create 3 to 7 studies at a time.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time? 
I’m used to painting one piece at a time. Sometimes I dare myself to work on more pieces at the same time.

Do you prefer painting in studio or en plein air?
The two forms of painting bring me different experiences and energies. Outdoors I connect with the landscape, with the people passing by, I receive sunlight. In the studio I connect with myself, I control things more. I like both experiences!

How many core colors do you use?
I love trying different colors. But mostly I work on all the composition possibilities with the primaries (2 blues, 2 yellows, 2 reds), a burnt sienna or sepia and a turquoise.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
Tubes.

When do you know that your piece is finished?
I never know. But I feel like I should have stopped by now when I return to something to touch up.

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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) along with guest artists from around the world. On Thursdays (2:00pm Pacific), John and some of our Brand Ambassadors highlight a group of colors and answer 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.