In the Woods

Richard Estell

For the past ten years or more, I have been returning to the same themes and approach to watercolor with one intention: that is to (neither extremely rapidly nor painstakingly slowly) develop a watercolor that can hold all that I want to give it with a similar development that I’ve come to expect from oil paint. I try to retain freshness and spontaneity yet achieve more structure than is often seen in watercolors. My subjects are occurrences in nature that are often modified in major ways from initial observation. Invention is usually necessary to augment reality and elevate a given subject to a more personal statement, that reaches for something intangible. When I think I have found that, the painting is done.
I would like to dedicate this group of paintings to my late father-in-law, Russell Ward, my great friend Bob Harbison and of course, to my wife Camille Ward, who has often shown me the way when I can no longer see it myself.

Richard Estell Resume
In the Woods Virtual Tour & Talk