ArtistsNetwork.com 23would magically inspire me,” he
recalls, “but that wasn’t the case.
Often, I found myself wandering aim-
lessly around looking for something
that lived up to my expectations.
After an hour, I’d go home.
“I soon realized that if I kept
searching for the ‘perfect’ scene, I’d
never get anything done, so I set goals
for myself instead,” he says. “I took
an inventory of what I did well and
looked for areas that needed improve-
ment. For example, if my sycamore
trees lacked the proper texture, the
next time I ventured out, I’d paint the
fi rst sycamore I encountered. Now,
every time I go out, I have a problem
to solve and am able to get right down
to work. Th is way I’m always learning,
and I’m much more productive.”
Popadics’ discipline in painting
extends to his choice of time and
light. “I try to get out in the early
morning or late afternoon during the
golden hour,” he says. “At that time,
the landscape is colorful, and the
shadows are long. Midday, the light is
fl at, and all the color is washed out of
the landscape. I have an app on my
phone that notifi es me when the
golden hour will occur based on my
location. It’s very handy.”
While Popadics remains open to all
manner of landscape views, he fi ndsThe Joy of
Watercolor
Popadics enjoys the chance
happenings that watercolor
offers. “John Singer Sargent
is quoted as describing
watercolor painting as
‘making the best of an
emergency,’ ” says the artist.
“I agree. Painting in water-
color often feels like an
aerobatic routine where
everything has to be done
in a certain order and if
there’s just one misstep, it’s
all over. That kind of tension
has its advantages and dis-
advantages. On one hand,
it makes me focus more
intensely, but on the other,
it can be defeatist.”
Although watercolor has
its challenges, Popadics
remains a huge champion
of the medium. “Watercolor
brings a feeling of air,
spontaneity and joy to my
landscapes,” he says. “When
a watercolor is done well,
there’s a freshness about it
that radiates light and
atmosphere. I’m a bit of
a control freak, and the
medium is unpredictable.
Watercolor reminds me to let
go and express myself freely.
Many times I begin a painting
and think, ‘Oh my, this isn’t
going to end well !’ But to my
delight, the washes dry in
a serendipitous way. I have
a moment of Zen when
I paint a sky and the wet
paper is just right. If all goes
well, I feel like the creator
churning up clouds. It’s
exhilarating, and this feeling
shows up in the work.”LEFT
Noank Harbor
(watercolor on
paper, 14x20)BOTTOM
Boats & Pier
(watercolor on
paper, 14x22)