AquaTalk: rinaswan

Hello watercolorists! It's time for another installment of AquaTalk! As you know, each month, we will choose a member of watercolorists to interview. You will gain insight to their general artistic goals, their watercolor technique, and little of their personality as well.

This month we interviewed the awesome rinaswan, a great watercolorist, someone whose colorful art and intricate details let us catch a glimpse of the magical Thai culture.

Today is Kelli's (KelliRoos, our beloved founder) Birthday!! Happy Birthday Kel!!

abasss



First of all, please tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised and am still living in Bangkok, Thailand. The first passion I remember in life has been drawing, and I have never stopped it.

When did you start painting with watercolors? Why do you use watercolors to create art?
I started using this medium without proper guidance when I was a little kid. Both the paint and paper qualities were so poor that one could be discouraged at first attempt. Although I later studied a watercolor lesson with a famous Thai watercolorist in 1994, I couldn't make any better and gradually turned to gouache and acrylic for a few years. By the time I got a degree from a local art institute, my watercolor skill was still horrible. I did seriously return to watercolor in 2003. The fact that there's a small number of watercolorists in Thailand makes me set my goal to become a watercolorist. Moreover, watercolor is safe for my health condition.

bulletblue: Who is your favorite watercolorist? Do you have a favorite on deviantArt?
Since my art relates to Thai fantasy, there can be no other favorite watercolorist than Master Chakrabhand Posayakrit. www.chakrabhand.org He's the most beloved artist in Thailand, while GreeGW is my favorite on dA. I'm always impressed by certain watercolor techniques and restriced to specific themes. Hence, there're not many watercolorists whom I really admire.



What inspires you to create? If you're uninspired can you paint the same?
Inspiration is important for an artist. If I lack inspiration, I'd shift my status to an audience or a reader in quest of motivation in art. I often find it in literature and mythology in which imagination is never ending.

What do you want to communicate with your art? And how does watercolor help you accomplish this?
I'd like to express the beauty in Asian art. I'm not actually a nationalist, but I'm just true to my origin, creating artwork from where I stand in this world - that sounds pretty much like an Egoist. As Asian art is full of intricate details, I find watercolor a challenging medium for those details. Besides, I can't see myself working in studio for weeks on the same painting. Watercolor really saves my working time, so I can move on more quickly to a new painting project.

What is a watercolor technique you use a lot? Craziest technique you have done to achieve a certain effect?
I use salt trick and splattering very often. Bleaching liquid is used sometimes, but it's in experimental stage.

What's your favourite color? Do you "abuse" of that color in your paintings?
I love yellow. My painting never lacks yellow color. Splattering yellow on wet violet even creates a fascinating effect. For watercolors, yellow can't shine on already-tinted paper. So an abuse of yellow color is almost impossible for me.

How do you know when a piece is finished?
I really don't know exactly. I think I have to stop when green doesn't look like green, red is not red, and blue turns out to an unidentified color.



Any watercolors story/anecdote you would like to share?
I'm a DIY person. Making gadgets and art tools for personal use is my little recreation. I also have ideas to get the paint from plants in my garden, and natural binder from local fruit. Buying things from an art shop seems convenient in modern life, but you'll be content if you can save money in your pocket and make a little something by yourself, says a girl growing up among imported art supplies.

Best advice you've been given
Find your inspiration and let it flow!
Experiment is good and fun, give it a go!

Any other thoughts you want to share?
Pessimism can save your day, YAY!

Tubes or pans?
Always tubes.

Watercolored pencils y/n?
Never.

Masking fluid y/n?
Yes, sometimes. I actually use liquid latex for mold making instead of art masking fluid.

hot press or cold press?
Always cold-pressed.

studio or outdoor?
Studio.

left-handed or right-handed?
Right-handed.

morning person or night owl?
Night owl, though I work faster in the morning.

sports or couch potato?
Couch potato.

half full or half empty?
Half empty.

Batman or Superman?
Neither. I'd say Sailor Moon!

dog or cat?
Cat forever!!



Thanks a lot Rina!!!!!