Interview With Charles Evans!
At last, there are finally compact, portable boxes of colour palettes for all your mixing needs in painting both rural and urban scenes; Watercolor Mixing Deck: Landscapes and Watercolor Mixing Deck: Architecture are here!
To celebrate the release of these handy reference card decks, we sat down with esteemed painter and author Charles Evans to chat about how he believes that they are a truly essential tool for any artist.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I have been painting all my life and professionally for 35 years, teaching and demonstrating.
Tell us a bit about Watercolor Mixing Deck: Architecture & Watercolor Mixing Deck: Landscapes?
I think they are a perfect addition to your workbox. From either just copying and doing the paintings as they are, to using them as reference material in your own paintings. There will be something in one of the cards to help you whatever your subject.
How will these reference cards help artists as they approach their color mixing?
Each card gives you explicit mixing details for colours used.
What was the creative process like as you developed these card decks?
The editor and I agreed on subjects and then I tried to paint pictures to illustrate them with as many variations as possible.
What was your main inspiration when developing the decks?
Simplicity and clarity with an emphasis on teaching.
What is your favourite card/painting from each of the decks?
Landscape: The sunset with silhouetted trees.
Architecture: London skyline including the gherkin.
What was your route into art?
I painted pictures of pitheads and mining villages for the Coal Board and then went to Art college, followed by a deep need to paint.
What is the most challenging thing about being an artist?
Constantly trying to improve.
What makes up for the challenges?
The pleasure people get from the paintings as well as the look on people’s faces as they realised they can actually paint.
Who (dead or alive) would you invite to the perfect art retreat?
Turner, Constable, Roland Hilder, Edward Seago. I would learn so much from these people.
What advice would you give to your beginner self?
Practice, practice, practice. And don’t be put off by other people’s opinions (like my old art teacher!).
In one word, how would you describe the Watercolor Mixing Decks?
Fabulous.
Simplify your color mixing process for visible results or give the artist in your life a truly unique (and useful!) gift this Christmas; Watercolour Mixing Deck: Landscapes and Watercolor Mixing Deck: Architecture are available at the links here and here!
About the Author
Charles Evans
Charles Evans is one of the UK's leading painters, well-known from his long-running TV series and for...