Artfully Composed: Explore Dynamic Design in the Work of 5 Watercolor Artists

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There are numerous methods for planning and developing a composition. Where one artist may work up a dozen thumbnail sketches, another may tinker around in PhotoShop to adjust and rework a reference. Another might forego preparatory plans altogether, making adjustments to the placement of elements along the way. Ultimately, the project of composition is another one of those situations in which artists—through experience and exploration—eventually figure out what works best for them. To inspire that exploration, the Fall 2025 issue of Watercolor Artist features artists whose painting styles and subject matter vary greatly, but whose work demonstrates a flair for design. Enjoy this preview of some of the inspiring art you’ll find in the issue.

For Barbara Kempe, her compositional power grows out of keen observation which allows her to see intricate patterns of small, abstract shapes that build into exotic garden scenes, such as the one depicted in *Primeval Garden* (transparent watercolor on Fabriano hot-pressed paper, 21×29).

When Rick Anderson begins a painting, like his watercolor, *A Quiet Place* (watercolor on paper, 15×22), it’s intuition that leads the way. He kicks off his process by choosing between two divergent paths of expression—one that leans into more structure and another that follows a more spontaneous path.

The initial spark for Robin Erickson’s paintings of eucalyptus trees, such as *Spring Flush* (watercolor on paper, 16×20), usually begins with a glimpse of an eye-catching tangle of limbs and branches.

When setting up a still life arrangement, like the one for *Autumn Pears* (watercolor on paper, 18×14), Jennifer Olson thinks about how the various elements interact—how they have “conversation,” almost like actors on a stage.

For Roman artist Massimiliano Iocco, the challenge is to take the busyness of a scene with lots of buildings or a plaza crowded with people, and distill it into a pleasing composition that still communicates the energy and vitality of the location, as seen in *Celleno* (watercolor on paper, 12×16).

Get Your Copy!

Discover more about the working methods and creative practices of these five artists, plus much more, in the Fall 2025 issue of Watercolor Artist Magazine, available HERE.

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