Watercolor Painting: A Quest
Guest Writer and Artist: Ken Fellows
Years ago, I began an interest in watercolor art. Trying on my own, I wanted to paint more than anything. And I did.
ken fellows
I’ve now been painting for over 25 years. Before I started painting, I was a radiologist who spent nearly 40 years contemplating black/white images. My gray-scale discrimination is pretty good, and perhaps the reason my paintings feature the effects of lighting (a doctor colleague observed at one of my shows: “Well, Ken, I see you’re still dealing in shadows.”)
Interpreting x-ray images requires subconsciously rejecting what is unimportant or extraneous and focusing on the unusual, the variant, and the arresting. The same holds true for painting. When I paint, I strive to isolate the essential and defining elements of a scene, leaving out the mundane or distracting. Art teachers instruct that what is left out of a painting is as important as what is included. Sometimes, deciding can be difficult; it complicates the pursuit of every new piece of art.
A revered local artist, Dewitt Hardy, was my favorite teacher. He was a master watercolor painter. His criticism of my work was that my paintings were often “too graphic.” Other people have observed, not always admiringly, that “your work looks like a photo.” I offer no defense, unintentional as my style may be.
I often use personal photos as a reference for a painting, but I’ve studied and sketched most scenes on-site before attempting the final rendition. Any photos only help when back in my studio, to recall the ambient light and shadows. Everything else –the objects, shapes, proportions, and colors are candidates for exclusion or change.
Whatever viewers think about my work, if it’s in a show, it has already passed my severest critics—my artist/wife, Kristin; my photographer/daughter, Hannah; and my grandchild, Ella (who invariably recommends, “Grandpa, not enough color”). They have discerning eyes and good judgment. If they disapprove, the public never gets to see the work.
The number of my paintings invited to public shows is over 70. I’ve been very fortunate to find this a gratifying ‘2nd act’ in my life. Even though many of my paintings have sold, I’ve never kept track of how many. It’s also been a pleasure to gift a number to friends, family members, and fellow artists. Like most artists, I live with the fact that after I’m gone, a number of my creations will eventually be relegated to scrap piles.
The real joy and contentment I derive from my painting come from the satisfaction it provides and the mindfulness and contentment the process creates. Most sessions of painting are as mentally beneficial as the best times of meditating or the hours spent together with good friends and loved ones.
How fortunate I’ve been to have stumbled on the joys and rewards of painting with watercolors.
Ken Fellows
Joanna Seibert joannaseibert.com
