Brenda Swenson came to us LIVE from the USA  on Friday, January 20th to share her watercolor techniques and favorite color palette.

Here’s a quick Q&A with Brenda:

Why do you make art?
I experience my world in a deeper way by sketching and painting what I see. I love the constant challenge of watercolor. It’s my greatest joy & frustration.

How long have you been painting?
My earliest happy childhood memories involved being creative, drawing and painting. My professional life as a painter began in the 90’s.

Did you have formal art training?
I’ve had formal training on and off through out my life. Did I graduate from an art school – no. It’s the hours behind a brush that matters the most.

Are you a working artist or a hobbyist?
I’m a professional working artist, workshop instructor and author.

What inspires you?
I look to myself for inspiration. It’s my responsibility to do things that keep my mind stimulated. I don’t wait for inspiration to find me, I do things that stimulate and inspire creativity. I take long walks in the morning to study natural light and it’s effect on things (shadows, reflected light, color, etc.). I attend shows and talk with other artists.

What kind of music do you listen to while painting?
I mainly listen to instrumental music. Movie sound tracks are among my favorites.

Have you had a mentor?
I’ve been blessed with many mentors in my life. John Koser helped me understand the business side of being a professional painter – everything from photographing art work, entering shows and writing articles for magazines. Chris VanWinkle taught me the love of drawing. Gerald (Jerry) Brommer inspired the best in me. He taught me how to be a teacher.

Do you paint every day?
No. Being a professional painter requires I wear many hats and manage my time carefully. Some days are for writing, photographing artwork, framing, shipping, teaching or travel. And I take Sundays off.

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time?
I generally work on one piece at a time. The only time I put something aside is if I’ve run into a problem. I’ll set it aside until I know how to fix it, but I don’t like having unfinished paintings laying around.

Do you prefer painting in studio or en plein air?
I do both plein air and studio painting on a regular basis. Plein air painting strengthens my studio work. In the studio, I build upon what I learn outdoors.

How many core colors do you use?
I have 20 colors on my palette. Most paintings have between 8-10 colors. The color choices will depend upon the technique I’m using – transparent negative painting, collage or plein air sketching.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
Tubes

How do you know that your piece is finished?
When I begin to lose interest, then I’ve said all I had to say.

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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.