The next Society of Watercolor Artists (SWA) member meeting is Monday, April 22nd at 7pm. Meeting Location: University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX. Visitors are always welcome!
For more information about SWA, see the website www.swawatercolor.com
April Demo Artist is Iain Stewart
Iain Stewart is a watercolor artist / illustrator and a signature member of both the American and National Watercolor Societies. His work has received numerous awards in international competition and he is a sought after juror and workshop instructor. He is also an architectural illustrator with an international clientele- a business he has run for the last 20 years. Iain maintains a studio in Opelika, Alabama.
Artist’s Statement
I rely on instinct a great deal and my sketchbook when selecting subjects for my paintings. The lion’s share of my work is done in one sitting as my real struggle in painting is to capture the initial vision for any given piece. I am most often motivated by capturing a definitive lighting condition and how it influences shape and value rather than faithfully representing the subject as witnessed. Watercolor is uniquely suited for this task as “light” is reserved from the first brush strokes and must be protected throughout the painting process .
The underlying narrative in my work is not based on any theme in particular but quite simply how “place” is inhabited and used daily.
I often use remembered atmospheric and lighting conditions in my work and would say that I paint from life and memory simultaneously. My watercolors are not only a translation of what I see, but more importantly, an expression of how I choose to view the world.
