Why Process Matters More Than Medium

People often ask if these watercolours represent a shift in my work. They don’t. They’re simply another way of staying connected to the same practice.

Painting in watercolour isn’t all that different from how I work in oils. It’s still about layering and time: paint, dry, paint, dry, paint. At some point, the lines come in. It’s slower than it looks. Intentional. Focused.

When I paint, I need uninterrupted time. I often say I’m “going under” — meaning I’m shutting out distractions and letting my attention narrow until all that’s left is the work. That state brings calm and clarity, and it works both ways: I paint to feel it, and feeling it helps me paint.

That kind of focus isn’t always available in everyday life. The watercolours became a way to keep the practice alive when long oil-painting sessions weren’t possible.

It’s not about becoming a watercolourist. Any medium can be useful to an artist. Mediums are tools — ways of solving problems, staying curious, and continuing to work.

What matters most to me is the act of seeing. Drawing and painting begin with observation, but they don’t end there. Memory, emotion, and interpretation always enter the work. That’s why my paintings aren’t about exact realism — they’re about how a moment is remembered and felt.

The process matters because it shapes what comes through. And sometimes, the most important part of making art is simply staying present long enough to let something emerge.

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This post is part of a short series reflecting on flowers, attention, and process.

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