Watercolor for me is such a wonderful medium to use, and its transparency gives a natural luminosity to the washes applied. I love all the different techniques that can be used in watercolors, from wet-in-wet to dry brush, and many more. I love how they can produce painting effects that no other medium can.
Sunlit Bay, watercolor, 15 x 11" (38 x 27 cm) My aim was to create a sense of light coming through the trees and over the bay. While the sky was still wet I dropped in mixes of permanent alizarin crimson, cerulean blue and French ultramarine to create the distant trees. Just as the paper started to lose its sheen, I used an old store card to create the houses and trees. Adding shadows to the foreground posts helps to emphasize the effect of the sunlight. Violet and yellow are complementary colors, which create harmony within the painting.
The Traveller, watercolor, 9 x 6" (22 x 15 cm) One of my first paintings from when I began painting, The Traveller is still one of my favorites. This painting represents someone traveling or wanting to travel to somewhere they haven’t been before. The excitement and anticipation of what lies ahead on their journey is what I was aiming for with this painting. Sometimes when life seems too fast I would want to be the traveler to escape the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. A break from technology, just beautiful surroundings and the sound of the birds singing.
Before starting to paint I like to put some music on first, as I find this helps me to relax. Sometimes I paint from a reference photo and sometimes from my imagination. If I use a reference photo then it’s usually just for its color palette or tonal values.
Coastland Countryside, watercolor, 15 x 11" (38 x 27 cm) I am blessed with living in such beautiful surroundings, and I feel this painting reflects that. Being so near to the coast gives me inspiration to want to paint. This painting combines the countryside and the coastland and makes me feel at home. I used warmer colors in the foreground and cooler ones in the distance. This helps to create depth, so that the viewer can imagine walking along this peaceful unspoilt land.
Mountain Mist, watercolor, 15 x 11" (38 x 27 cm) I began by painting the sky a light cerulean blue chromium with a no. 10 round brush. Once dry I painted the mountains one at a time, leaving hard edges at the top and blending out at the bottom to create the misty effect. For the foreground trees, I created a sense of light skimming through the tops of them by softening the edges. I achieved this by using a damp brush through the wet paint just before it lost its sheen. My aim was to create a peaceful, misty land with a low romantic mist encapsulating the mountains to give a sense of calm and tranquility.
I start the first wash by either wetting the whole paper or just part of the paper. I then apply my colors to the wet paper and see how the paint flows. I absolutely love this part. There’s something almost magical about the way the paint reacts with the water on the paper. While the paint is at different stages of wetness I will add more colors to build up depth and contrast within the painting. Once the first wash is dry, I take a step back and study the painting to work out how I want the rest of the painting to go. From there I concentrate on building up layers and adding more details. I like to paint quite freely and although parts of my paintings will look quite detailed, this is often achieved with minimal brushstrokes. One or two brushstrokes can suggest so much if placed correctly, such is the beauty of watercolor. —
About the Artist
Matt Angell
Matt Angell is a self-taught watercolor artist based in the UK. Although he has always liked watercolors he had never properly explored its possibilities as a medium until about three years ago when he started painting regularly. Instantly hooked, he continued to paint and one year later sold his first painting. Since then, he has continued to explore watercolor and has now sold many paintings worldwide through his website and on social media.
Angell remembers trips to the Tate Gallery in London with his school and how J.M.W. Turner’s paintings always stood out to him. The light and romance that he captured in his paintings were inspirational. From the southwest of England, Angell feels very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. With the beaches and seas that surround him and the different weathers that engulf them, Angell continuously feels inspired to paint. He enjoys beautiful countryside walks with his wife Jayne and dog Coco. Angell’s paintings are often described as calming and peaceful.
Contact at
mattangelldesigns@gmail.com
www.mattangelldesigns.com