Chan Dissanayake is an award-winning artist living in Australia. His passion is watercolor, a medium he says, that thrives in spontaneous response and free expression. His mastery is manifested by the vast varying subject matter that he tackles from rural landscapes to urban cityscapes to coastal seascapes. His quick and direct approach to watercolor has earned him much success and respect, both nationally and internationally.

In 2017, Chan received the ultimate accolade for an Australian Watercolorist when he was elected to the elite Australian Watercolour Institute. Known for his innovative approaches to teaching and generosity in sharing his knowledge, Chan has gained considerable reputation as an outstanding tutor. He conducts workshops throughout the country, leads international painting tours, and has contributed many articles to leading art publications including Australian Artist and Artist’s Palette.

“My work represents my inner response to the world around me. As an artist, my aim is to capture an impression of my subject with as little detail as possible. This is done by simplifying the subject matter to its core elements. Although it’s a demanding medium, I find that watercolor is tailor-made for this purpose. It is paramount that one learns the language of watercolor – only then can you command it to do its magic for you.”