Victor Doria from Peru shared his favorite watercolor palette and techniques

Here’s a Q&A with Victor:

Why do you make art?
Because it’s a necessity for me and a way to connect with myself. When painting en plein air, it helps me to keep a moment and the feeling of a place in my memory.

How long have you been painting?
I have drawn and painted since an early age, but I discovered watercolor 17 years ago. I have dedicated myself to this medium completely for the last 5 years.

Did you have formal art training?
No I didn’t. Since my parents are artists, I learned about art at home as a child. On the other hand, studying architecture was the perfect complement, which is why I love to paint cities and urban scenes.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
I’ve been a full time working artist ever since I realized that keeping art as a hobby was not enough.

What inspires you?
I get inspiration from all the creative people I meet. With many of the artists I get to know in person or through their artwork, each of them leaves different ways to see the reality, which differs according to their experiences. I also find inspiration in all the places I visit. I go for walks in my city just to see the light at different times.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?
It depends on the mood and the theme of what I’m painting. The music helps me to remember the atmosphere and the experience of the places where I’ve been. I enjoy classical, jazz, rock (Pink Floyd, Cerati, Radiohead and Interpol are my favorites), traditional and creole music from my country, as well as rhythms of the world.

Have you had a mentor?
I’d say my art mentors are my parents. I was influenced by seeing them paint with oil, assist at art exhibitions and museums, and have everyday conversations about art. Now we comment on our works and exchange feedback.

Do you paint every day?
I try to paint every day, but there are days when I don’t have the time or I’m not in the mood.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?
I usually work on one piece at the time and try to finish it in a day.

Do you create a concept piece first?
Yes, especially when working at the studio. I make some small monochromatic sketches to study the composition, values and atmosphere before painting in a larger format.

Do you prefer painting in studio or en plein air?
I prefer painting en plein air, but painting in studio allows you to study your work more carefully, so for me both are complementary.

How many core colors do you use?
I usually use between 5 to 8 colors for a painting, but I have 13 colors on my palette:  Moonglow, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Viridian, Hansa Yellow Medium, Hansa Yellow Light, Pyrrol Orange, Pyrrol Red, Quinacridone Rose, Italian Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Sepia and Titanium White.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
Tubes!

When do you know that your piece is finished?
There comes a moment when I stop to evaluate if there is balance in the composition, values and edges. If I start to doubt that it needs more detail or if I start looking for defects to correct, I force myself to stop.

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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 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.

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