He was introduced to watercolour by his father-in-law who had been painting with the medium for years. Together they often went out into nature to sketch and paint – eat some sandwiches, drink some coffee, and then make a few paintings!

It is clear that Edo finds inspiration from nature and his local Dutch landscapes, although when he started his main inspiration was from English watercolour painters: Alwyn Crawshaw and Ray Campbell Smith. They still have a big influence on Edo’s work and it is evident that their teaching laid a foundation in his painting development. To allow his watercolours to breathe, Edo combines transparent “wet” areas with expressive tones and details. Painting in a loose and relaxed style that suggests more than he really paints. His work has a realistic basis, with its own interpretation and personal touch.

Edo selects his paper according to the subject he has in mind. Nice, soft washes are on Saunders Waterford, in both Rough and Cold Pressed surfaces. Edo uses Bockingford when he wants to achieve some stronger definition with harder edges, areas and colours, where he finds the paint adheres better to the harder wood-based paper. For snowy, winter landscapes, Edo prefers to use Millford; the high sizing used in the manufacture of this paper makes it more water-resistance than other papers. This gives it the ideal property for making it easier to achieve nice, rough brush strokes and broken edges.

Watercolour is one of the most difficult forms of visual art to master. The quirky and unpredictable nature of the medium is a challenge, in Edo’s experienced hands it can lead to amazing results.

Website: www.edohannemawatercolourartist.wordpress.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/edohannema.watercolourart
Facebook www.facebook.com/edo.hannema
Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCuulNUJt3BrrMKbbj2zijOA
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/EdoHannema
 

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