Nancy Partovi: Fine Art in Watercolor: 2018

Friday, December 21, 2018

Wellspring

Wellspring is a painting of rapidly moving water about to flow under the bridge at the foot of Vernal Falls in Yosemite. "Wellspring" refers to "the source," as water is the source of life and passes through this cycle every year. My family and I have visited Yosemite every Spring for the past 30 years or so and Yosemite has always been a wellspring for us, a source of renewal and inspiration.

Over the Mountain

Over the Mountain was painted en plein air on several early mornings. The focus was on the beauty of majestic Mount Diablo, rising above the colorful hills and milky fog in a scene that was as transient as it was inspiring.

Artist's Statement

As a participant in the University of California, Berkeley's, Education Abroad Program, I was privileged to study Italian Art and Literature at the University of Padova in Italy for one year. Shortly after my return, I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a major in Art/Painting from UC Berkeley. Over the years, I have taken workshops from Cheng-Khee Chee, Arne Westerman, Lian Zhen, and Alvaro Castagnet. In February 2017, I participated in John Salminen's inspiring workshop on Painting the Urban Landscape and am now excited to do more work in this genre. I feel extremely fortunate to have met and studied with each of these master watercolor artists.

I love watercolor and the unpredictable way it moves and mixes on the surface of the paper, creating beautiful and sometimes almost magical passages. I am an elected Signature Member of the California Watercolor Association and paint both in my studio and en plein air. Most of my plein air painting is done with the Jade Fon Plein Air Painters group. My work is regularly on exhibit with the Valley Art Gallery in Walnut Creek, California.