Rafael Pita from Brazil shared his favorite palette and watercolor techniques:
Here’s a Q&A with Rafael:
¿Por qué haces arte?
Because I need to express myself. Art is connected with my mood and my emotions. When I go a long time without it, I don’t feel good.
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas pintando?
I have been drawing since I was a child, but I started watercolor painting in 2006.
¿Recibiste formación artística formal?
I studied drawing for comic books at a school called Quanta in São Paulo. The first class I had about colors was by chance – it was not in my plans, but it was something that found me. After that class, my learning process became self-taught.
¿Eres artista profesional o aficionado?
It was never a hobby, even in the beginning when I was still studying drawing, My goal was always to work with art. I started teaching art classes as soon as possible and took jobs as an illustrator.
¿Qué te inspira?
I like varied themes – but some flow more easily for me, like natural landscapes, seascapes and houses. Whatever the theme, I’m always looking for the most pleasing compositions.
¿Qué tipo de música escuchas mientras pintas?
Light instrumental music like indie and folk, or sometimes Christian music. Sometimes I listen to lectures or sermons while painting.
¿Has tenido algún mentor?
Not as a teacher, but there is a Brazilian watercolorist named Antonio Giacomin who greatly inspires me.
¿Pintas todos los días?
I wish I could, but I have too many administrative tasks. As a working artist, it’s not only about painting.
¿Pintas una pieza a la vez o trabajas en varias simultáneamente?
Much of my painting lately has been for teaching classes, so I’m producing isolated pieces with a specific purpose. I would like to produce a more personal series of work, but I haven’t managed to start yet. It’s a very important project for me though – I will make the time!
¿Primero creas un boceto conceptual?
Yes, I always use planning tools in my creative process, which is exactly the point I help my students explore in depth.
¿Prefieres pintar en estudio o al aire libre?
Plein air is wonderful, but I need time, so the studio is more practical. It also depends a lot on the purpose of my work – if I am teaching or painting for commission. I am actually planning a plein air course now.
¿Cuántos colores básicos utilizas?
My basic palette has 12 colors: El gris frío de Joseph Z., Quinacridone Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Carmín, Rojo cadmio, tono medio, Amarillo cadmio, tonalidad media, Tono azul verdoso ftalo, Azul ultramar, Azul de cobalto, Phthalo Blue Green Shade, Azul real del rey, y Lavanda.
¿Tubos, sartenes o palitos?
Tubos.
How do you know that your piece is complete?
When the piece is almost finished, I usually give it some time, then I look from a distance to see if there’s something undesired or that needs touch-ups. But when I start to make touch-ups that don’t add any quality to the piece, then I already know that it is passed time to stop!
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