Ian de Hoog shares how he creates his beautiful watercolor art. Here’s a quick Q&A with Ian:
¿Por qué haces arte?
With all the distractions day-to-day, I find the process of painting calming and peaceful. That something beautiful sometimes comes out of those times is a bonus.
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas pintando?
I started about 10 years ago with a few watercolours at the suggestion of an instructor of an architecture program I was in. Now I’m a working artist.
¿Recibiste formación artística formal?
Not exactly. Apart from a few workshops over the years I have figured it out mistake after mistake. Still making mistakes and still trying to figure it out.
¿Qué te inspira?
Nature primarily – and light.
¿Qué tipo de música escuchas mientras pintas?
Many different things from classical to heavy alt rock. Just depends. I will often put on a podcast or an audiobook as well. I also have a tendency to binge series on Netflix in the background while I am painting.
¿Pintas todos los días?
I paint or sketch every day.
¿Pintas una pieza a la vez o trabajas en varias simultáneamente?
Depends. If I have a commission, sometimes I will have a few paintings on the go. Usually I prefer to work through a piece to completion. Often, when I am unsure if a piece is done, I have a little shelf that I put a piece on and it sits there in plain sight until I either realize what needs to be fixed, or I come to terms with it and its done.
¿Primero creas un boceto conceptual?
For commission work, absolutely. Also, if it is new subject matter I will often create sketches and value studies to work out some ideas so I have a better understanding of what I am going to do once I start painting. It is the unpredictability of watercolour that I find the most endearing, the things I can’t control. In order to exploit this, the less I am trying to figure things out while painting the better I am able to “tune in” to what is happening on the paper.
¿Prefieres pintar en estudio o al aire libre?
Either. But nothing beats setting up outside on a nice day. Unfortunately, since I live in a area that is prone to a lot of rain, enjoying the studio space is essential.
How many core colours do you use?
Nine – it’s a split primary palette with an earth yellow, earth orange and a dark neutral: Hansa Yellow Medium, New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlett, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, French Ultramarine, Phthalo Blue GS, French Ochre, Burnt Sienna Light, Neutral Tint
¿Tubos, sartenes o palitos?
Tubes all day long. Never tried sticks.
¿Utilizas líquido de enmascarar?
I love the idea of it, but I lack the patience. If required, I will use a little gouache or an white acrylic/gel pen to put a little white back. Otherwise I try my best to preserve white with my brush. I have found this approach helps me focus on developing my brushwork, moisture control and overall appreciation of value.
¿Cuándo sabes que tu obra está terminada?
Ultimately, when there is nothing left to fix. I have a little shelf that sits just in view of where I paint. Often, when a piece is close to done, or I am not sure what needs to be fixed, the painting gets put on the shelf. Sometimes the painting sits there for a couple hours, sometimes days or weeks. Eventually I either figure out what is needed or I come to terms with what I have done and accept it.
••••••••••
Únete a nosotros en línea cada semana para una conversación cercana y personal con John Cogley, CEO y propietario de Daniel Smith, y artistas invitados de todo el mundo. Los jueves (14:00, hora del Pacífico), John destaca las características de nuestros productos y responde a tus preguntas. Los viernes (10:30, hora del Pacífico), un artista invitado comparte cómo incorpora esas características en su obra. Haz clic aquí para ver los enlaces de Zoom de la próxima semana..
Consulte nuestra Facebook página para noticias sobre próximos artistas invitados o para ver repeticiones pasadas. Cada reunión de Zoom también se graba y se comparte en nuestra canal de YouTube. La traducción al español está disponible – selecciona el canal en español en Zoom.
