Vibrant Watercolours by Graham Wilson

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23 November - 5 December 2007
 
 
Why watercolours? Pukekohe resident Graham says there is no other medium that gives the same degree of sparkle and freshness. I love how watercolours provide softly merging tones and a translucence that comes about in areas where light is reflected from the paper.?
 
Watercolour is recognized as a difficult medium only because the painter can?t readily correct mistakes, as one can when using acrylics or oils and over-painting the undesired brushmarks.
 
The watercolour challenge is in careful planning to get your colours and sequence right the first time, Graham explained. They say with watercolours if you fail to plan then you plan to fail. This is the challenge I enjoy--to get if right without the need for correction.
 
Graham's paintings are largely representational but he applies his own creativity to enhance the scenes. He took up painting as a retirement hobby 12 years ago and treasures the early tutorials he attended, conducted by Ben Ho at Mauku and later at Franklin Arts & Cultural Trust (FACT), Pukekohe. After Ben left Franklin, Graham?s interest was further kindled by Erin McRobbie.
 
Both Erin and Ben were great tutors who had a happy knack of getting the most out of their students and not permitting time to fiddle. Graham said. With watercolours fiddling only spoils the spontaneity and freshness.
 
Art is very much a learning experience and each complete work increases ones competence. For Graham, as with most other artists, there is a great satisfaction in the reward of learning.