Minnesota’s rich landscapes and abundant waterways serve as the enduring inspiration for watercolor artist Rick Lundsten. Living amidst lakes, rivers, and ponds, Rick naturally draws from this ever-present water element, which flows through his paintings whether depicted explicitly or subtly infused in his technique.
We are honored to share Rick’s story and insight into his artistic process as he continues to explore the interplay of light, water, and landscape through his evocative watercolors.
Medium: Watercolor
Location: Minnesota
Theme: Nature, Water
Notable: Louvre 2024 exhibit
I like the versatility and clean, reusable nature of the medium. I would tell artists to paint what they want and how they want to paint.
I generally work from photos I’ve taken. I prefer doing scenes that include water, so depending on the nature of the piece I’m trying to create, I alter the scenes lighting and setting to fit the theme.
I paint with watercolors and gouache and use a wide variety of brushes to obtain the desired results.
My work is detailed and labor intensive, so it takes a long time to complete a piece. I try to devote a certain amount of hours weekly at the easel.
Not worry about conventional thinking and “rules” of watercolor. Unlike other endeavors such as the fields of science or engineering, the techniques and methods in watercolor are secondary in importance to the result.
I was fortunate enough to have participated in the Contemporary Masters of Modern Art Festival at the Louvre in Paris last year. The notoriety received from participating in this show has brought significant results in gaining interest in my work.
Don’t get too caught up in trying to paint like other artists or in what they paint. They do what they do, and they do it their way. Do what you do…how you do it.
