Featured Artist Dale Popovich

Artist and teacher Dale Popovich creates idyllic and eloquent watercolor landscapes that tell a story. Visit his website to see more of his work.

 

 

As an artist/teacher for over 39 years, I still see myself as a student. I continue to learn, not only through my observations but, through my students. I have told my students many times the difference between them and me is that I’ve made more mistakes.

 

 

I was trained as a fine artist in watercolor with illustration as a minor. Before attending college I had lost 80% of my sight. After having brain surgery and regaining my vision, I changed my career course and attended a fine art college. I wanted to use my eyes and my hands. You see, I was an apprentice plumber before my surgery, which meant lifting, digging, and being down in a hole!

 

 

After graduating, I began teaching college level art. My first goal then and now is guiding the student to not just to look, but to truly see. I have found a good learning tool for my students is to photograph the sequence of watercolor washes so they can observe how I build the painting from start to finish. My second goal in teaching is to have my students use their imagination and learn how to create, not just copy. I tell them they are the storytellers, that they need to let their paintings tell a story.

 

 

I first became intrigued with transparent watercolor after studying oil painting. I wanted to search for another option to express myself. Since then I’ve been exploring the infinite journey, as I call it, in watercolor.

 

 

I take many photos of my subject matter in the woods, fields, and waterfalls. Nature is my subject in all kinds of weather. I use photos as an idea; I never copy. I start with abstract patterns of light and dark along with the textures and color. This ignites my creative spirit.

 

 

When I get back to my studio, I create color roughs from my photo references that intrigue me. What has taken me years of painting to recognize is to leave unimportant things out of my painting. Simplify! Through my paintings, I’ve also explored the use of gouache mixed in with the watercolor in an effort to add more depth and feeling for my subject.

 

 

Here is a small sequence of how I build my painting from the beginning, middle and the end. When building a painting, I always block-in. This means starting with the large areas, then the small areas, background to foreground, working values, light to dark, laying in my colors with more intensity in the beginning and less intensity (or grayed down) towards the end. I want the painting to come into focus all at once, not one part before another part.

 

 

Every year I set goals. This year I opened my online e-commerce gallery in April offering original art, demos, and giclée prints. My wife Marilee and I launched our online art school, Towering Winds Academy, last year. This year, I want to expand by adding more watercolor courses and additional essential art information classes.

 

Artist Dale Popovich invites you to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, his Online Gallery and his Online Art School.

 

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