Gerda Mentens came to us LIVE from Belgium on Friday, February 11th via Zoom to talk about her watercolor style and favorite palette. Visit our Demo page for the Zoom links to log in, or you can watch the conversation on Facebook Live.

 

Here’s a quick Q&A with Gerda:

Why do you make art?
I paint because it gets me out of time, so I can go with the flow. 

How long have you been painting?
I have been painting with watercolor for 40 years. 

Did you have formal art training? 
I had a professional training in Antwerp, Belgium to be an art professor – I taught there for 30 years. I also had a training in China.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
Now I am a full-time artist with my own art school in Belgium where I teach watercolor and drawing. 

Who and/or what do you look to for inspiration?
My inspiration comes from my travels around the world, because I give watercolor classes on cruise ships.  I also like to take pictures in and around Belgian cafés. The artists I like are Rik Wouters and Leon Spilliaert from Belgium, Kees Verwey from Holland and Edward Hopper from USA.   

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?
Mostly classic music.  

Have you had a mentor? 
I did have mentors during my training, but now I have mentors in my life, like my good friend Alvaro Castagnet for whom I organize workshops in Belgium. Bob Tomanivic from Holland is also a good friend who has taught me a lot about watercolor. 

Do you paint every day?
I paint randomly. 

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?
Always one at a time so I can stay in the flow of the moment. 

Do you create a concept piece first?
My concepts are my photos. I also make a drawing with grays that I work upon. 

Do you prefer painting in studio or plein air?
Mostly in my studio, but sometimes plein air if there is an opportunity. Also I paint in front of my students during my weekly demos. 

How many core colors do you use?
At the maximum, I use 18 DANIEL SMITH colors. But every painting has its own palette that I choose from these 18 colors. 

Tubes, pans or sticks?
I use tubes because I don’t like to use too much water. I like to paint with contrasts. 

Do you use masking fluid?
Sometimes I use different types of permanent masking that stay on the paper to give some special effects.  

When do you know that your piece is finished?
I always say – when you even think of stopping, it is already too late. 

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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.