Advancing with Watercolor - Rainy Day Prague - Improvising

About the author
Gary Tucker is a watercolor artist/ instructor living in the Boston area. He offers online workshops , in person workshops, and a catalogue of watercolor videos on technique and design
My on-line store www.gumroad.com/garytuckerartist
My web site www.garytuckerartist.com
instagram page / garytuckerartist
THE CREATIVE IMPULSE
For the visual artist the creative impulse is typically stimulated by something seen. It can be a star far away it can be the texture of an old stone wall, so many things stimulate our visual sense every day. We can also stimulate our creativity simply by starting to paint. Anything a shape a line and we instantly engage our creative sense. The exercise we just practiced builds on that notion. In creating some quick small sketches we can stimulate our ability to catch a passing scene such as rain in old town Prague
THE DISCOVERY
The discovery made while doing the small sketches is invaluable. Often an image begins as a mere notion and being realize this notion, after a series of watercolor sketches, is at the very essence of artistic endeavor. So much is gained in the process . A new technique, a new mark, a new way of thinking about your subject. These discoveries are made by you and discovered in the hours by yourself in your studio. They become an important part of your visual vocabulary.
THE PERFORMANCE
“Watercolor differs from other media in that there is a performance aspect to it. The fine pieces come out in one sitting and very often like a classic performance, something happens, a fusion of mind and subject, an improvisation that cannot be duplicated” -
Practice practice practice - each subject - we should treat like a song. Memorize it and sing it “By Heart”. If there is a key to being spontaneous, to being able to improvise this is it.
By practicing your subject with these watercolor studies you internalize your subject then you are free to add yourself to the piece
This is another benefit to doing these studies - drawing the same subject more than once, painting it more than once, may sound like drudgery but it is not. We become to memorize our subject and internalize it’s many qualities. When we are free from the reference we can truly perform the watercolor...

[@riordenjeff]

I was impressed by how you dropped that run-back onto the top of the train (without comment) and it turned into a light flare. That’s master level water control.

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Letting watercolor do its thing - - thx Jeff

[@nursebeckman]

Thanks Gary Tucker. You are an amazing teacher! Yes it feels like Prague.

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Thx Debra!

[@dougg1075]

Awesome

[@lakeywindi1166]

Beautiful and the description.. excellent.. thank you ❤❤❤

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Thank you!

[@rayoflight4957]

Mesmerizing. Thank you for walking (and talking ) us through your painting process. Love your style. Love your paintings. Love you even more. Blessings & Warm Regards.

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Thank you so much! Ray

[@madhursrivastav]

This would be my next. Love it Sir!!

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Thanks Madghur

[@davidhuth5659]

Really beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Thanks for watching! David

[@pkaspar78]

Beautiful! I was in Prague yesterday 😊

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

As a artist - My favorite city!!!

[@mooshibe]

Great talent of yours! Congrats.

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Many Thx!

[@mariya063]

Thanks a lot !!! 👏👏👏

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Welcome 😊

[@riamcnamara3899]

Wonderful demo!

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Thank you Ria!!

[@davelester1985]

very nice.

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

Thx

[@divyasureshbabu]

amazing

[@GaryTuckerArtist]

thank you