Watercolor Artist, February 2011

Highlights
Best Watercolors of the Year
Keys to More Expressive Portraits
Step-by-Step Portrait Demo
Ways to Keep It Simple

Features
Winner's Circle
By Kelly Kane
The winners of our annual Watermedia Showcase competition share the stories behind their prizewinning paintings.

Economy of Means
By Meredith E. Lewis
Simplicity rules the day in Bill Vrscak's streetscapes, which could be set in your own hometown.

Behind the Mask
By Sarah A. Strickley
More than pretty pictures, Susan Montague's candid watercolor portraits expose her subjects' truest selves.

The Long Haul
By Ann Emmert Abbott
After years of trucking a harsh northern landscape, Harold Allanson has set himself a new challenge—capturing bustling scenes in watercolor.

The Year's Best Paintings
By Jessica Canterbury
Go behind the scenes with the artists who took top prizes in 22 of the year's annual juried exhibitions and find out what made their work stand out.

Reality Check
By Kelly Kane
In order to take your art to the next level, you first must be able to identify what's working and what isn't in your own paintings. These handy guidelines will give you a good place to start.

Columns
Making a Splash
By Jessica Canterbury
Make taking digital photographs of your own paintings easier—and more successful—with these simple dos and don'ts.

Studio Staples
By Cathy Johnson
A new watercolor panel is put to the test. Find out if it's right for you.

Creativity Workshop
By Robert J. O'Brien
Learn how to put the drybrush technique to work in a number of different applications.

Meet the Masters
By Carrie Oeding
Whether painting the city or the sea, one constant in John Marin's career remained his fondness for watercolor.

Watercolor Essentials
By Suzanna Reece Winton
Follow along as this artist demonstrates her process for painting fleshtones, hair and fabric in 10 easy steps.