Painting a Personal Reality in Watercolor

Ratindra Das AWS, NWS TWSA has one overriding rule: Don’t make a boring painting. By permitting himself to adhere to his own aesthetic, Das gives us a wonderful example of how to shake off old habits and listen to our muse. He begins with a value/shape drawing already much changed from his reference photo, then proceeds to design the painting as a whole. His strong design sense and willingness to question common expectations permit new freedom and individuality in watercolor. Das uses unconventional flat shapes, manipulates the visual path and mixes vibrant colors directly on the watercolor paper to recreate his visceral experience of a bustling harbor scene. The result is fresh, vibrant, energetic, unique and certainly not boring!