Jan Min came to us LIVE from Holland on Friday, January 28th via Zoom to talk about his watercolor style and favorite palette.

Here’s a quick Q&A with Jan:

Why do you make art?
For me, it’s a way of life – self-expression and an urge to create.

Did you have formal art training?
I’ve drawn since childhood and studied several master classes at Kunst Academie.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
It has become my profession.

Who or what do you look to for inspiration?
It depends on my mood and desire to express.

What kinds of music do you like?
I always work with music – everything from classical to pop.

Do you have a mentor?
No.

Do you paint every day?
Yes, even if it’s just ten minutes.

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

Do you create a concept piece first?
I sketch the day before or make a study in my “book of appetizers.”

Do you prefer painting in studio or plein air?
Mostly studio, but I like plein-air painting as well.

Do you paint vertically or flat?
Flat or sometimes at a 30 degree angle.

How many core colors do you use?
My DANIEL SMITH Dot Card is coming soon with my favorites, but sometimes I also love working in monochrome.

Do you use watercolor in tubes, pans or sticks?
Always from 15ml tubes.

When do you know that your piece is finished?
My intuition tells me.

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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.