How I began painting watercolors
on Maui, Hawaii
It was on the fourth floor of a small apartment by
California's Oakland Bay Bridge that I first began doing
watercolors. I can still hear the noisy hum of perpetual
rush hour on the colossal two-tiered bridge as I
squeezed the brand new tube of watercolor paint from
Pearl's art store.
I sought to prove I could do it, having heard the
lamentations of many over its difficulty. I'd always
admired the work of my high school art teacher, Mrs.
Ruth Ann Goold, whose watercolors to my novice eyes
were both spectacular and impossible. They still are.
Mine looked like kiddie art when I thus began in 1998,
and it shocked me that after painting oils and acrylics I
was not able to produce anything of similar standard.
on Maui, Hawaii
It was on the fourth floor of a small apartment by
California's Oakland Bay Bridge that I first began doing
watercolors. I can still hear the noisy hum of perpetual
rush hour on the colossal two-tiered bridge as I
squeezed the brand new tube of watercolor paint from
Pearl's art store.
I sought to prove I could do it, having heard the
lamentations of many over its difficulty. I'd always
admired the work of my high school art teacher, Mrs.
Ruth Ann Goold, whose watercolors to my novice eyes
were both spectacular and impossible. They still are.
Mine looked like kiddie art when I thus began in 1998,
and it shocked me that after painting oils and acrylics I
was not able to produce anything of similar standard.
It was an all or nothing deal.
Fast forward to now. Remember, I never planned on staying
here or leaving; I just took a year off to paint and ended up still
here. I feel I've finally uncovered some of the mystery of
watercolors, and managed to learn how to harness it.
I'm often asked where I get my inspiration from. That's hard to
say, as I refer to all my experiences, desires, imaginings, and
wishes.
Watercolor never tires me and I never tire of it. It is like
working with a changeling -- there's always something new to
learn. It is like life.
Back to homepage.
Fast forward to now. Remember, I never planned on staying
here or leaving; I just took a year off to paint and ended up still
here. I feel I've finally uncovered some of the mystery of
watercolors, and managed to learn how to harness it.
I'm often asked where I get my inspiration from. That's hard to
say, as I refer to all my experiences, desires, imaginings, and
wishes.
Watercolor never tires me and I never tire of it. It is like
working with a changeling -- there's always something new to
learn. It is like life.
Back to homepage.
I had been working at a 9 to 5 job at the
time and was only able to paint on
weekends. After a tiring week of work,
the only thing on my mind was to get
laundry done and go grocery shopping,
with some TV watching in between.
Therefore, it wasn't surprising I only
managed to squeeze out one painting a
month -- but it bothered me.
Shortly after, I took my first trip to Maui,
Hawaii, and decided it was a good place
for a sabbatical. It was now or never.
So I returned to San Francisco and
worked for 3 more months just to make
sure my decision wasn't based on a
whim and that I truly needed to quit a
steady job in order to pursue art full-time.
time and was only able to paint on
weekends. After a tiring week of work,
the only thing on my mind was to get
laundry done and go grocery shopping,
with some TV watching in between.
Therefore, it wasn't surprising I only
managed to squeeze out one painting a
month -- but it bothered me.
Shortly after, I took my first trip to Maui,
Hawaii, and decided it was a good place
for a sabbatical. It was now or never.
So I returned to San Francisco and
worked for 3 more months just to make
sure my decision wasn't based on a
whim and that I truly needed to quit a
steady job in order to pursue art full-time.
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Frances Ku