60 Watercolor artist | APRIL 2019
Burning Question
What’s the most important
thing for a painter to do to
capture the spirit or essence
of a human subject?
Debra Edgerton
In capturing the essence of a human
subject, an artist must have the
ability to empathize. I know that
sounds a bit cliché, but for me, I need
to find a way to take in what I might
know about the subject, and then try
to reimagine the story that needs to
be told or the story I want to tell. If
I have that story in my head, then a
portion of what I paint evokes both
my subject and myself. That kind of
personal investment in the work allows
the viewer a glimpse into the artist’s
vision. That’s where the spirit lies.Bev Jozwiak
Paint shapes, not objects. By that
I mean instead of concentrating on
“eyes,” “nose” and “mouth,” paint the
structure underneath. I like a really
strong dramatic light, so I can paint
the shadows. I used to worry about a
likeness, but when I started painting
the big shapes, I found it looked more
like my subjects than when I worried
about every little detail.“Have an emotional connection to your subject,” suggests Bev Jozwiak. For her,
that means her subject is often her daughter, a professional dancer, as in
Curtain Call (watercolor on paper, 24x22), or her older daughter’s kids.
“Anybody who makes you feel something will help the viewer feel something,
too,” she says.