Cynthia Dearing Watercolors & Fine Art

 My subjects come from real people, places and things that are meaningful to me. They are familiar local spots or scenes from my travels, people that show a resilience of spirit, and particularly things in nature that I love. Choosing these for the painting process forces me to be more intimate with the subject and look at it with a deeper awareness,  to capture the detail and sense of emotion in the world around me.  In a sense, the process forges a new emotional relationship with the subject even more intense than the original.

As a medium, watercolor challenges me to embrace its inherent unpredictable nature and work with it instead of trying to control it which can lead to some interesting unexpected effects.  Each brushstroke becomes experimental. Overcoming “white paper syndrome” with the first  dab of color, the action of painting settles into a meditation, a way of working through a sometimes ungainly stage to get to a point where the likeness of a person or place comes to life. Then, I can step back with more attention to the paint itself to build out the scene with finishing touches.

With our hectic lives full of demands, my aim in painting is to offer viewers a moment to slow down--to absorb colors, light, and particularly elements of peace and  joy. Perhaps the viewer will pause to linger in front of a painting. Perhaps something causes the viewer to mull over the physical process, recall a similar memory, or recognize something familiar from their own experience. That is the connection I seek between artist and audience.

I live in Columbia Falls, Montana with my husband Hunter.  When I'm not painting I love hiking, backpacking, cross country skiing, biking, organic gardening and traveling, either exploring my beautiful home state or a whole different country.