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| "Color Therapy" Original Watercolor by Monica Bishara |
Hi Everyone,
It's Friday again:)) Boy Fridays get here fast:) Today I'm introducing the fabulous Monica Bishara. I love her work and met her through my involvement with Louisiana Watercolor Society. Not only do we share a similar aesthetic and love of painting glass but when I was reading her interview these could have been my answers.
To see more of her works please visit her on facebook.
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| "Blooming Season" original watercolor by Monica Bishara |
How did you get your start? What’s your artist journey so far?
Art has always been
a part of my life. Since I had the good
fortune to live in Europe for several years while growing up, being surrounded
by art and history on a daily basis had a profound influence on my development
as an artist. As an art major in college, I loved figure
drawing, ceramic sculpture and printmaking.
After graduating, I spent the next twenty years teaching high school art
classes before retiring to focus on my own painting. Having my own studio space was probably the
one thing that made the biggest difference in my life as an artist, and of
course, having the support of my husband who is my biggest fan.
Where were you born?
San Antonio, Texas
If you could live anywhere where would you live? Somewhere
warm.
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| "Time To Shine" original watercolor by Monica Bishara |
What’s your favorite thing to paint and why?
Glass. I am drawn to it like nothing else. I love the way light shines through it and
how an image seen through glass is broken up into a mosaic of color and shapes.
Could you talk about your painting techniques?
First, I plan the
values and then decide what areas to keep white so I can glaze to my heart’s
content building up layers of transparent watercolor. For me, the biggest advance was the discovery
that introducing some darks for contrast makes the lights shine.
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| "Hot August Night" original watercolor by Monica Bishara |
How did you arrive at your current style?
The same way as
anybody else---practice, practice, practice.
The funny thing was that it took me so long to discover watercolor. When I did, it was kismet. Nothing compares to the beauty of transparent
watercolor.
I know that you taught art for a number of years. How has that experience influenced your
journey as an artist?
When you have to
teach something, you really learn it. It
becomes second nature.
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| "Winner's Circle" original watercolor by Monica Bishara |
Do you have a favorite artist? Who has been your biggest inspiration?
John Singer Sargent
is my all time favorite watercolor artist.
There is
so much to be learned from his brushwork, composition and mastery of the medium.
In
addition, I have many friends who are very good
painters and always enjoy seeing their new work.
What are some of your favorite things or things that are
essential to your well being/success as an artist?
I can spend hours
painting while listening to music or a good audio book in the comfort of
my studio.
Do you have go-to paints/colors, what are your favorites?
I prefer Daniel
Smith transparent watercolors: Sap
Green, Cobalt Blue, French Ultramarine, Hansa Yellow, Aureolin and all the quinacradones, yes, all of
them. Opaque colors, used only
occasionally, are exiled to another palette.
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| "Pears on Parade" original watercolor by Monica Bishara |
What are five things you would like to happen in your
life in the next five years? Dream big here:)
I’d like to learn
how to paint like I paint only better and do a new series for a solo show. Along the way, it would be great to add NWS
and AWS signatures to my resumé. Travel is high on the list. There are so many places I’d like to visit
and paint. A personal chef to take over
meal preparation would be such a treat!
In case you haven’t guessed, cooking is not my favorite thing to
do.
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| "No Exit" original watercolor by Monica Bishara |
What is your advice for other artists who are just
getting started in their career?
Get involved with a
local art group because you’ll learn so much when you network with other
artists. Make friends with artists who
know more than you do and ask lots of questions. They are usually delighted to share what they
know. The last thing is probably the
most important---Don’t wait to get started.
So many people wait until their children are grown up, or promise
themselves that they will do it when they retire. My life almost ended when I was robbed at gun
point on a sunny day in May 30 years ago.
From that day forward, I started painting whenever I could, at first
while my children were napping or on Saturdays.
Here I am thousands of paintings later waiting for the arrival of my
fourth grandchild. Life is good.
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| "Bonjour" original watercolor by Monica Bishara |
What is the best advice that you have received as an
artist?
“Just paint.”
In a moment of surprising candor, the teacher of a workshop that I took
many years ago told the class that we would actually learn more if we spent the
tuition money on supplies and went home to paint. There are no shortcuts. If you want to learn to paint, you have to
paint.
SPEED ROUND!
Chocolate or vanilla?
Are you kidding? Chocolate!
Sunny beach or rustic mountain retreat? Summer
in the Alps
Book or movie? Both
Favorite author? Jane Austen and Tennessee Williams
Favorite movie? Amadeus or any Alfred Hitchcock movie
Favorite ice cream flavor? Tiramisu
gelato. Actually, I have yet to
meet a gelato that I don’t like, especially if I’m in Italy.
Night owl or morning person? I’m
usually up at dawn.
Cake or Cupcakes? Cake—preferably the piece with the most
frosting. : )
Thanks for the terrific interview Monica. Have a great weekend everyone, I'm off for an end of the school teacher appreciation lunch at my son's school, then a birthday party at my house on Sat, packers coming soon and a moving truck in my not to distant future--wish me luck--oh yeah and several commissions to finish and a hubby getting home from Afghanistan! Gonna be an action packed May!
Carrie
