28 Watercolor artist | APRIL 2020
evening light and the seasons change,
I encounter new surprises and rewards
every time I return to familiar places.
Th is is the primary reason I like to
paint urban landscapes.”
Th e artist’s gratitude for the beauty
he sees around him—and his passion
for depicting it—shines through in
his works. “I love painting our lovely
world,” Chow says. “I hope that each
piece of my work not only inspires the
viewer with its creativity and vivid
colors, but that the viewer can also
understand my attitude toward life
by looking at it.”
Chow doesn’t deliberately set out
to search for specifi c scenes or themes
to paint. Instead, he’ll notice the
striking morning light in his surround-
ings, a dazzling refl ection on the river
or a smile on the face of a passerby.
Any of these fl eeting moments can
serve as the impetus for his creativity.
“All the beautiful things in this world,”
the artist says, “inspire me to paint.”“ALL THE BEAUTIFULTHINGS INTHISWORLD
INSPIRE ME TO PAINT.”
Keeping a Fresh Perspective
Although Chow has used acrylic and oil in the past, and
has even held a number of solo oil painting exhibitions
worldwide, watercolor is the medium that he returns to
most often to portray that beauty. He’s drawn to its
simplicity and portability. “I like the transparency and
convenience of watercolor,” Chow says. “I can paint
whenever I want, and I don’t have to worry about lots
of equipment.” Currently, the artist uses Daniel Smith
extra-fi ne watercolors and Arches 110-lb. rough water-
color paper.
Th roughout his 30-year career, Chow has tried many
diff erent watercolor techniques and approaches. “Th e
actual process of painting is simultaneously my favorite
and the most challenging part of being an artist,” he
says. “While I’m working on a piece, I’m constantly
reminding myself not to use a composition or tech-
niques that have been used by other artists, and
instead to try to use new color combinations, new
theme content or new compositions.”
Chow strives to keep his work fresh and unexpected,
and this pursuit means that he might cast aside a piece
that others consider good. Th e ultimate result is that
his work is frequently lauded for its unique qualities.
Many artist friends praise his pieces for their boldLEFT
Old Town of Brielle,
Netherlands
(watercolor on
paper, 15x22)BELOW
The Color of Tirana
(watercolor on
paper, 22x30)