Theresa Goesling came to us LIVE from the USA on Friday, November 18th to share her watercolor techniques and favorite color palette.

Here’s a quick Q&A with Theresa:

Why do you make art? 

I have enjoyed art and the art community my whole life. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest where it rains a lot. My paintings evoke a vibrant, cheery feeling because that is what made me happiest on a dreary, rainy day.

How long have you been painting?

Since I was a child, I enjoyed painting and creating things. I won an award in elementary school with my watercolors and in middle school my painting was chosen for the cover of our yearbook. As an adult, I have been published in books & magazines like Splash, Outdoor Painter, Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist & American Watercolor Society.  I am also a past president of Northwest Watercolor Society and have been demonstrating for Daniel Smith and promoting the paints for decades.

Do you have formal art training?

Yes, I studied Fine Arts at the University of Washington, as well as Visual Communications & Illustration at the Art Institute of Seattle.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?

I am a working and teaching artist. I have been teaching at my gallery and studio until Covid hit, and now I teach online via ZOOM and en plein air across Europe and the USA.

What inspires you?

We are fortunate to be artists and see the beauty in everyday life. The beauty around me excites me to paint, especially light and shadow.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting? 

Music that relaxes me and reminds me of my travels, such as Andrea Bocelli. Or it could be pop artist if I want to re-energize.

Have you had a mentor?

I would say I have surrounded myself with encouraging people. My grandmother was an artist, and my mother was a photographer. One of my college teachers was Bill Cummings – he was very encouraging with contour drawing and color stories.

Do you paint every day? 

I named my company Make Everyday A Painting. It is a travel & workshop company, but I also teach through other avenues that you can see on my website. I also have a painting instruction manual. I am creating something every day, whether in my head or on paper. I am in my studio every day and I paint several times a week. I am always working on lessons for my workshops.  En plein air, I am painting twice a day for my demonstrations. I also take a ton of daily photographs and videos to work from.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time? 

I always have at least one painting started. I usually have a couple going at the same time. It helps me to not overwork a piece.

Do you prefer painting in studio or en plein air?

For me, plein air is so freeing and relaxing. I prefer it, however, Seattle’s weather often dictates staying inside for a paint day. If I am in the desert (I split my time between Seattle WA and La Quinta CA) and it is too hot, I may go inside to paint.

How many core colors do you use? 

18 colors are in my palette, plus Titanium White and Neutral Tint. I was so honored to get a DANIEL SMITH Dot Card with my colors on it.

Tubes, pans or sticks? 

I prefer tubes, they are easiest to reactivate with water.

How do you know when a piece is finished?  

A piece is finished when I step back from it and the values read well and colors glow. I chose my palette because it is luminescent with color and light.

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Join us online each week for an Up Close and Personal Conversation with Daniel Smith CEO and Owner, John Cogley 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.

Check our Facebook page for news about upcoming guest artists or to watch past replays. Each Zoom meeting is also recorded and shared on our YouTube channel. La traducción al español está disponible – selecciona el canal en español en Zoom.