My Personal story with watercolour

 MY PERSONAL STORY WITH WATERCOLOUR 

I did not attend Art school! My father was a brilliant artist in Oil but his main occupation was Master in Stained glass Windows.

He taught me composition, sense of colours, how to paint in Oil. I spent many hours in his studio, helping also with his business

When I wanted to go to les Beaux Arts in France where we were living, it was a firm NO.

He told me: ‘ Women look after their husband and children”

Born in 1946, like the rest of the girls I knew, we did not have the freedom girls have now or backing from parents. We were doing what we were told.

I was sent to a college to learn secretarial, accountancy etc

It was with a heavy heart I saw students passing by with their portfolios.

I was well determined that one day I would be an artist.

Within a year, I passed all my exams with success then I was sent to find a job while in the same time I was doing my father’s secretarial tasks.

In a way, it has served me well as I have never needed help with my papers…

Regarding Watercolour, my father did two little paintings, each time adding pastel to them.

I was not allowed to touch his treasured paints. Probably to put me off, he told me Watercolour is not a serious medium. Oil was the king of medium.

I married. while I was helping my husband in his business and raising our three children, I was finding time to draw with pastels. I bought some Oil paint, did a few paintings, then discovered Acrylic. I produced many canvas in Acrylic. 

I was buying Art magazines where all kind of works were on display. I was avoiding looking at watercolour works as my father had taught me, it was not a serious medium. I had an aversion to them. Probably because deep down I was attracted by the medium.

I was mesmerised by the luminosity, the beautiful colours mixing together with softness.

One day I read artists who worked on canvas made small watercolours of what they wanted to paint to help them see how the works on canvas would look!!!

Eureka! It was the nudge I was needing. I bought a tin of Watercolour, some paper and I started.

I got well and proper hooked !!!

I have painted so many. Friends and family got a lot out of my studio.

Then one day I put them on Ebay to find out if there were sellable. And yes they were!!!

I have now sold them  at good prices.

My aim is to try to help the beginners in Watercolour as there are so many questions most people ask me…

So watch this space.