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Michael Solovyev came to us LIVE from Canada on Friday, March 18th at 10:30am Pacific via Zoom to share his watercolor techniques and talk about his Master Artist Watercolor Set.

Here’s a quick Q&A with Michael:

Why do you paint?
Probably because that’s what I’m on this planet for – to observe the world and narrate how it looks. We all study the world. Some people try to understand how everything works with a microscope. On the other hand, I am more interested in how the world looks.

How long have you been painting?
I started when I was five years old. Oddly enough, my very first watercolor has survived to this day. I’ve also worked in other areas of the arts – theatre, design, printing, lighting.

Did you have formal art training?
I received a comprehensive education in Russia that spans 17 years – art school, art college, academy, special courses. My education was always specialized – architectural design, stylist, theater design… but traditional art always was the major part.

Are you a working artist or do you have another job?
I am an artist – it is my main job and painting is a part of it.

Who do you look to for inspiration?
My wife. She works so hard – keeping the house, taking care of the children, being my muse, and conducting business and networking with my students and clients.

Do you have a mentor?
Yes, my mentor is the world around us.

Do you paint every day?
Yes, it is both my work and my life. I prefer painting in the morning, but honestly, the time of day is not that important.

Do you paint in plein air or in studio?
I do both, but in the winter I am confined to my studio.

What music do you listen to while painting?
I mostly listen to jazz or blues. Sometimes, Queen or Led Zeppelin bring me energy, and Tom Waits or Pink Floyd can create a special atmosphere.

Do you work on one piece at a time or several?
I always do one at a time.

Do you paint from memory or use photo references?
Every time is different. Today for instance, we have a reference photo, but I do not follow it blindly. I modify it.

Do you begin with a sketch or concept piece?
No, I prefer making a plan in my head without any preparatory sketches.

Do you paint vertically or flat?
I paint almost flat, at a small angle of around 5 degrees.

How many core colors do you use?
I usually use no more than 6 colors in a painting. But I prefer to have 9-18 colors on in my main palette.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
I prefer 15ml tubes.

How long does it take you to finish a piece?
It always takes a few hours – as I never return to my artwork after a break.

How do you know when your artwork is complete?
It’s done when I can see what I wanted to say on the paper. Then it is time to put the brush away.

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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.