Fine Art Instruction, Articles, Art Videos & Art Resources | Artist's Network » Watercolor Artist Blog

Show Us Your Best Watercolor Paintings!

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:28:58 +0000

What’ the easiest way to get your artwork seen by the public? Put yourself out there. More specifically, if you’ve been longing for your watercolor paintings to be published in the pages of Watercolor Artist, a good first step would be to enter our Watermedia Showcase Competition. Prizewinning works will appear in the February 2013 issue of the magazine, and winners will claim $1,850 in cash awards. The submission deadline is July 16; find more details here.

To get an idea of what catches a juror’s eye, view galleries of winning paintings from previous Watermedia Showcase Competitions here.

Now, what are you waiting for? Send us your best watercolor paintings today!

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Last Weekend to Enter Strokes of Genius 5! Deadline May 16, 2012

Sarah Laichas, Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:17 +0000

The deadline for the Strokes of Genius 5: Best of Drawing competition has been extended through May 16, 2012. The theme of this year’s contest is “composition.” Artwork can be in any dry medium, or wet medium applied in a linear fashion that would be traditionally considered drawing. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, pencil, charcoal, Conte, pen and ink, scratchboard and silverpoint. Colored pencil, pastel and even some paint mediums are acceptable if used in a drawing-like manner. Visit our competitions page to enter your art today!

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Learn to Capture the Beauty and Radiance of Watercolor

Sarah A. Strickley, Features Editor — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:29:26 +0000

There’s nothing quite like that giddy feeling you get when you’re preparing for your first day of art class: you’ve got your watercolor palette, paper, brushes, water and paint at the ready and you’re eager to freshen up your skills. You know that by the end of the course, you’ll have learned how to capture the beauty and radiance of your favorite medium; maybe you’ll even have a few finished paintings to share with friends and family. What fun! Make sure you’ve reserved your spot in the latest watercolor course from Artists Network University: Professional watercolorist Annie Strack (pictured left) will take you through the essential techniques and concepts of watercolor painting. You’ll learn how to use your watercolor materials to create washes, work wet-into-wet, suggest value changes, establish color and light, execute stunning compositions and much more.

Click here for the full details and to sign up to experience that giddy feeling all over again!

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Artist’s Network eBooks | An Art Instruction Digital Library

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:48:16 +0000

Our fine art community at F+W Media has just launched a terrific new resource for artists: Artist’s Network eBooks. Offered as an annual subscription, the online ebook reader offers online access to a full art instruction library of more than 100 (and growing) art books from North Light Books.

As a subscriber, you can look at any book in the library as many times as you like, with no limit to the number of books you peruse. And the digital format allows you to bookmark your place, take notes and organize your creative ideas for quick reference in the ebook library.

Watch the “How It Works” video to see how easy the site is to use. For the moment, the service is suited for a personal computer, but apps for iPad/iPhone, as well as Android devices, are on the way.

Plus: Until April 30, to celebrate the launch, enjoy 10% off the subscription price (enter the coupon code WELCOME during checkout to redeem the discount). To learn more, visit the Artist’s Network eBooks website at http://ebooks.artistsnetwork.com.

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Watercolor Demo Overload

Sarah A. Strickley, Features Editor — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:34:17 +0000

If you love step-by-step demos, you’re going to fall head over heels for the June issue of Watercolor Artist. Known for her bold brushstrokes and drippy washes, Fealing Lin will demonstrate her open and direct process for painting a portrait; veteran instructor Mark Willenbrink walks you through the anatomy of a face with three must-see demos; and Judy Morris shows you how “skywriting” can invigorate your watercolor landscapes. If you’re headed to the beach, you’ll want to check out our recommendations for summer reads. Plus, get our eight best tips for ensuring your on-site painting experience is productive–and enjoyable. Click here for a sneak peek at our full table of contents, but be warned: the only known cure for watercolor demo overload is a full day of painting!

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Announcing the Winners of Splash 14: Best of Watercolor

Sarah Laichas, Editor — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:00:27 +0000

Congratulations to the 106 artists selected for the latest North Light Books’ Best of Watercolor competition, Splash 14: Light and Color!

On behalf of Rachel Wolf and the staff of North Light Books, I’d like to thank all of the participants in this year’s Splash contest. We received more than 1500 gorgeous entries, and it was a challenging task to narrow the field from so many worthy submissions. Thank you for sharing your work with us.

If you see your name below, you will receive an email from me on April 3rd detailing next steps.

All best,

Sarah Laichas
Editorial Coordinator, Splash: Best of Watercolor

Splash 14 Winners

Alexander, Kathleen (Abundance; Yellow Hibiscus)
Annesley, Jennifer (Pantheon; Teatro)
Archuleta, Jan (Healing Echinacea)

Baay, Nancy (Butterflies are Free)
Backer, Mary (Encore)
Baker, Hugh F. (Kayaks)
Baladad, Vanessa Calica (Patience)
Beck, Chris (Waiting in the Wings)
Berry, Graham (Lytham Cocklers)
Beukenkamp, Annelein (The Storyteller)
Braverman, Karen F. (Papaya)
Bunn, Christine Misencik (Survivor)

Cao, Peng (Ancient Waterway)
Chaddock, Anne (Catch of the Day; Sole Mates)
Collins; Kathy (After the Rain)
Cordero, Jaimie (Greenwich Park Rhodies)
Cornet, Heleen (Rainforest. The Tree on Top)
Cretney, Brenda (Three Horses)
Crone, LaVonne Tarbox (Recycle)
Crouch, Susan (Corbi)

Del Sol, Cristina (Cosmic Dancer)

Eber, Frank (City of Lights; Dordogne River Valley)
Erfle, Linda (Swiss Cow; Milk Goats of Saanenland)

Fairmont, Manette (Above The Firmament)
Frank, Jonathan (Reckoning)
Franz, Ming (Tahoe Rocks)
Fortunato, Nancy (Blue Taxis-Japan)
Fukushima, Michiyo (Minerva – G.C.T.)

Gauthier, Carla (Waiting for the Lunchtime Crowd)
Gerrish, Charlene (Steam’n the Roundhouse)
Gill, Jean K. (Sun Strokes & Rain Fall)
Givot, Stuart (Redwood Creek)
Goldstein-Warren, Laurie (My Brother’s Keeper)
Gore, Don (Wicked)
Guo, Liu Zhan (Shanghai Rainy Day)

Hamlin, Elizabeth M. (Metaphor #6)
Hearding, Catherine (A Walk in the Woods)
Hegman, Cathy (Chaos of Commitment)
Hillis, Catherine (My Viewpoint)

Isenburg, Karin (Clementines)

Johnson, Jeanne R. (Glimpse)
Johnson, Kim (Brothers In Arms; Honeymooner)
Jurick, Kristina (Fishmarket Venice)

Kalin, Jean (Morning Glow)
Kaplan, Chizuru Morii (Paris)
Khan, Fahmi (Blue Raven)
Knox, Charlotte (42nd Street Pizza)
Kozar, Steven (Ripening Pumpkins)

Lamothe, Marie (Beauty Beheld)
Leedy, Robert (Ocean & Ahern)
Leeper, Christopher (Big Baby Beef)
Lesley, Donna (Mr. Daly’s Roses)
Lin, Fealing (An Ancient Tune; An Ancient Tune; Night in Dresden)
Lynem, Ross (Meana)

Makowski, Robin Lee (Another Round of Primaries)
Masi, Antonio (Exodus)
Mason, Paul (Lions on the Avenue)
Maxwell, Dave (Going Green)
McCracken, Laurin (Clear Glassware)
Mehaffey, Mark (Taos Shadows 2)
Meythaler, Doug (Gawkers Slowdown)
Montague, Susan (Tales of the North Fork; Remember; Meadow’s Edge)
Morrison, James S. (4 Canoes at Kanuga)
Mu, Ran (Mu Ran 2)

Naik, Sachin (NaikSachin2.jpeg)
Nakari, Judy (Shadows of the Tuscan Sun)
Natale, Marie (Something’s Biting; A Walk on Historic Jackson)
Near, Nancy (Caribbean Spice)
Ng, Alfred (Parrot Tulip with Blue)
Nichols, R. Mike (Mystery Man)
Nunn, Janet (Roots and Stems)
Nuttall, Ted (Girl in Motion)

Parins, Kris (Floaters)
Pink, Sue (The Secret of the Old Clock)
Preslan, Kris (Sidewalk Raphael #2)

Reyes, Lynda A. N. (California Grandpa)
Rifkin, Dorrie (Across from Central Park)
Rogers, William (Go)

Salminen, John (Market Street, Bryant Park, The Mall)
Sawant, Prafull B. (Mirror Of Sky; Holy Morning At Nasik Ghat)
Schaller, Thomas W. (Concrete Factory)
Schmidt, Patricia (Year of the Rabbit)
Sharpe, F. Charles (Painted with a Roller)
Shelton, Dean (The Path)
Simpson, Penny Thomas (Real Cherries)
Smith, Kay (Sinatra)
Smith, Michelle Goll (Spring Preview; Papillon)
Spino, Frank (Fresh Squeezed; Makin’ OJ)
Stickel, David L. (Afternoon Stroll)
Stocke, Ron (Corner Market; Burrard St, Vancouver, BC)
Stratton, Joyce (Absolution V)
Stuller, Susan M. (But Is It Art)
Swan-McDonald, Deborah (The Professor)
Swenson, Brenda, (The Castle Green)

Tablante, Jimmy (Breaktime)

Vitulli, Suzi (Coochi Coo)

Waller, Carrie (Anticipation)
Walnes, Nancy (Beaufort Marsh)
Warren, Soon Y. (Harpy Eagle)
Watry, Lorraine (Shows Over)
Welsh, Judy (Konbanwa)
Wencong, Wang (The Farm)
Wicks, David (Bridge Nymph)
Wold, Oddvar (Haukeli3)
Woods, Richard (Dardanelles Lake)

Yasuoka, Keiko (Tulips; Which one?; My Special Place)

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……

Savor Spring with Huge Sales on Watercolor Books, DVDs and Downloads

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:00:28 +0000

Spring has sprung indeed—aren’t those cherry blossoms, hyacinths and tulips just begging to be painted? Whether your watercolor voice calls you to paint trees, spring flowers or water, you’re in luck: The most popular watercolor books, DVDs and downloads in our online shop are 40% off through March 30!

Whatever subject you paint, we wish you renewed inspiration this season.

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Watercolor Artist Magazine Creativity Workshop Winner

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:43:57 +0000

The entries poured in for Carol Z. Brody’s “Mix and Match” challenge from the February 2012 issue of Watercolor Artist—and we have a winner! Click here to view the winning painting and learn about its artist.

Party Papers and Red Circles (watercolor on paper, 22x30) by Carol Z. Brody

Have you yet to get involved with the Creativity Workshop? What are you waiting for? The entry deadline for the next challenge (from the April 2012 issue) is April 20.

Learn how to paint your way to a prize by clicking here.

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March Closeout Sales on Your Favorite Watercolor Magazines and Books

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:24:45 +0000

While mathematically inclined individuals celebrate National Pi Day (3.14, get it?), we’re making merry for spring with major sales in our online shop.

You’ll find favorite back issues, such as entire years’ worth—2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010—of Watercolor Artist magazines in CD archives, great instructional watercolor DVDs and North Light books. Take advantage of these amazing deals through March 18.

Click here to shop the bargains.

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How To Become a Watercolor Collage Artist

Jessica Canterbury, Managing Editor — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:35:35 +0000

The first step, according to acclaimed artist, author and instructor Nita Leland, is to never get rid of your failed watercolor paintings. That way, you can recycle them for use as collage elements such as backgrounds.

Click here for a free download including Nita Leland’s three other simple steps for using watercolor paintings as collage elements.

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