Enjoy the stunning portfolio of watercolorist Monica Acee, and be sure to visit her website to learn more.
“D’Artagnan” watercolor, 20″ x 28″
From the time I could hold a crayon, horses and animals have been featured in my artwork. Before long, I felt the need to portray the bond between these animals and their humans, and at the same time I was compelled to work in watercolor.
“Gunner and the Smithtown Hunt” watercolor, 22″ x 30″ (reference photo courtesy of Bruce Smith)
At first, I could only capture the detail I was after by using gouache, but I made it my goal to eventually be able to work entirely with transparent watercolor. That is how I have been painting for the last 20 years or so, and it is this challenge that keeps me interested in watercolor.
“The Welcoming Committee” watercolor, 16″ x 30″ (reference photo courtesy Michael Troxler)
There is something about building up the layers of paint and paying attention to dry brush details that helps me connect with my subject, to take the time to feel their personality and temperament. My hope is that this is conveyed to those who view my art and that they feel connected to the paintings as well.
“Roasted Ducks” watercolor, 24″ x 30″
During the last 30 years, through commissions, my art has taken me to places I never expected to travel, including a private island in the Bahamas and the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Because of this, I have taken on challenges with paint that have helped me expand my abilities.
“Migrant Worker” watercolor/gouache, 20″ x 25″
But it’s the people and their animals that have really touched my life, and I never tire of those relationships.
Artist Monica Acee at the easel.
Besides art, my other passion is my horse and riding, so perhaps this explains the depth of my interest.
“Portrait of an American Farmer” watercolor, 21″ x 29″
Currently, for my personal painting, I’m continuing to explore the connection between people who have chosen to work in the equestrian world and their charges.
“The Red Rain Sheet” watercolor, 18″ x 24″
I’ve spent many hours gathering reference material at horse shows, races and steeplechases and have a lot of great ideas for future pieces. I can’t wait to get started!
Monica Acee invites you to follow her on Facebook.
I really enjoyed looking at your art. All the water colors are so compelling to look at. It seriously so breath taking all these pictures. I can tell horses mean a lot to you, animals are such a big deal to me as well. The people in these art photos also have a story, I mean every artists has a story when they paint something there is always meaning. When I was looking at your paintings I noticed that each and everyone of them have feeling to it in the person or the animal. What I found from the pictures with the people in them, was that they were perfectly content with what they were doing almost like they were happy to be there; especially in the one where the field worker in sitting down and taking a break and he’s looking out in the scenery. It just shows how many people have different ways of looking at life and doing what they love doing. People look at other people and they wonder if they love what they do or acknowledge the beauty surrounding them and I believe the people in these painting do that. They are surrounded by things that they acknowledge and I find it profoundly interesting and compelling to see.
Hi Alexis – I was unaware of your comment about my artwork until just today! Thank you so very much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful piece. It really touched me and I apologize for not being aware of it and responding sooner! (7/26/15)
My wife Linda, and I first met Monica during a stop over in a Colorado B & B more than twenty years ago. After breakfast, I asked her what was her occupation, she replied “I’m an artist.” My immediate thoughts were along the lines of anyone who can sharpen a pencil purports to being an ‘artist’. The following moments cemented a friendship which, although five thousand miles away, consistently gives us an immense thrill when visitors to our home see Monica’s paintings. I shall explain; as her style was difficult to explain would I like to see a wallet of her work, naturally we said we would, with an unfair dread of disappointment. When we looked at the examples of her paintings, well, the old saying of “I was lost for words” became more appropriate with each and every viewing.
Monica’s ‘Hampton Classic Horse Show’ adorns our local huge equine equipment suppliers in Eastwick, Hertfordshire, whilst ‘The Red Rain Sheet’, 1996, welcomes visitors to our home. But the greatest thrill for us was when Monica and Ace came to England for an all too brief break in their European visit. With exceptional help and planning from officials of the American Embassy in London they prioritised my framed ‘Portrait of an American Farmer’ through security and transported it to Grosvenor Square. With its arable theme the staff hung it in the corridor of the executive offices of the Agricultural Section.
With full Embassy approval and without the faintest of any idea of what was in store for our American friends, we were ushered past queues of people, up the steps and into that little part of England that is America. That particular day the temperature was 100.6F! We then experienced maximum American air conditioning! Imagine living on the Equator then suddenly falling into an ice box, but after half an hour one becomes accustomed to it. Our guests enjoyed this unique tour, lunch and typical American hospitality, but more was to happen, after admiring artifacts donated by famous people we arrived in the Agricultural Section.
When passing each office door the occupants gathered in the corridor, nothing was thought as to why we were generating such attention until Monica was asked to turn round – and there it was – the ‘American Farmer’. We were all very emotional. Monica couldn’t believe seeing her talent in such an important setting, but then modesty is one of her finer points. We bade farewell to our Embassy hosts and proceeded to the ‘London Eye’ which I had booked along with a Thames riverboat outing. To our disappointment the giant wheel had been stopped, it transpired that if the air temperature exceeded 100F the air conditioning inside the pods would automatically shut the whole thing down – I recall my words to an official, ” My friends have travelled five thousand miles for this experience (slight exaggeration), we have left a building managing to keep a thousand (rough guess) souls in a comfortable atmosphere yet you can’t even control a few pods on a Ferris wheel !” My tickets were refunded and ‘Old Father Thames’ was a great substitute.
Thank you Monica and Ace for these undimmed memories, your friendship and, to you Monica, undisputed enjoyment and happiness evoked by your paintings.
Love, David and Linda., SG12 8PL, England, UK.
Ahh, David…I can’t begin to find the appropriate words to reply to your breathtaking comments…you are just wonderful! Much love to you and Linda – two extraordinary people! XXOO Monica