The fluctuation and the feathering effect of watercolor catch my breath when I see them gradually develop into sky, ocean or any kind of vegetation on paper. Its spontaneous effect also reminds me of the creation of nature.
When I see colors floating on paper surfaces and being pulled by gravity, it reminds me the living force of plants – showing strength quietly, like Spring sprouts that are tender yet full of vitality, and like stems and roots that are soft yet powerful enough to break rocks, and like the humble nature always conquers human power.
Fallen in love with nature and depicted it a lot in my arts, I realize there are so many things, such as life-force and strength, that are hard to imitate through visual images. The best that I feel I can do is to refine the mark-making to try to create the fluency that is similar to the perfection of nature. Perfection in nature is, for example, a tree that grows countless leaves all at once when the right time comes, yet all of them exist with one another in harmony. I feel I could spend my whole life and still could not do paintings that match the harmony of nature. However, watercolor gives spirit to my painting. When I use washes and see colors growing and feathering on paper, I sense its life force, and I see that it has a mind of its own. I wants my watercolor to be the representation of my wisdom, just as nature’s wisdom is revealed through water.
Related posts:
- Watercolor is the wisdom of the artist in revealation,
- Private: New Watercolor by Joseph Chiang – Living and Non-living
- Artist Statement of Squeezed Mint Ivy Packed in Wal-Mart Frames, Distributed by Joseph
- Watercolor Painting by Joseph Chiang – Mist
- Joseph’s Watercolor – Watercolor Gallery 2006/Spirit of Tree
