I will be teaching a lot of batik classes this year. Yeah, another chance to blow fuses where I teach (I have learned a lot about electricity though, and rarely trip fuses anymore) :).
Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) fine art watercolor painting-Germany. Watercolor painting of Berlin Cathedral Germany art Watercolor batik painting on rice paper of sun’s rays shining through forest
This technique uses wax, irons, hair dryers, extremely delicate Japanese rice paper (several types), and the audacity to crumble the entire painting into a ball at the end to get more cracks in the wax.
I hope you can join me at an upcoming workshop. I provided step-by-step instruction for students, talks on color, composition and more. You too can create a watercolor batik.
It’s been a while since I have traveled to Peru but I wanted to highlight a selection of my Machu Picchu paintings available. I still have the originals from two separate trips to the ruins as well as fine art prints in various sizes.
Fine art watercolor painting of Incan ruins of Machu Picchu framed by Incan doorway and mountaintop of Huayna Picchu- Sacred Valley, PeruFine art watercolor painting of Incan ruins of Machu Picchu- Sacred Valley, Peru. Watercolor paper stretched on canvas bars.
The photographs were all shot when I was a professional photographer. My first visit to the Incan ruins lasted five days. The second time I was there for three. Both times I climbed Huayna Picchu (big mountain) behind the UNESCO World heritage ruins- a slightly terrifying trip since there were little to no guardrails.
One misstep and you’d be monkey food several thousand feet below.
These paintings are a combination of different watercolor techniques- watercolor pouring, mouth atomizing, charging, and more.
The Sacred Valley was amazing- wonderful people, interesting food (guinea pig isn’t too bad and alpaca was quite tasty), and amazing sites- landscape, ruins, and more.
Check out my website to purchase original paintings or fine art prints in various sizes. I personally hand-sign each print/painting and they are securely shipped with tracking and insurance .
(Amsterdam Batik featured in Watercolor Artist Magazine- on newsstands now)
I’m honored to have won Second Place in this year’s Watermedia Competition. Chosen from 1000s of entries, my watercolor batik on Japanese rice paper of Amsterdam is currently featured in a 5 page article of Watercolor Artist Magazine.
In the article I talk about how watercolor has a mind of it’s own (it does). I begin a painting with an idea, an idea that quickly morphs into something else due to the mixing of color and gravity. As an artist, I embrace these unexpected surprises.
Interested in learning how to create batik watercolors? Join me for a batik workshop. I have several scheduled in the Raleigh, NC area and am willing to travel if any art groups are interested. Please contact for further info.
Icelands Diamond beach at Vatnajökull National Park. Iceland glacier and icebergs floating into sea at sunset watercolor batik painting Iceland home decor
New watercolor classes! I have only offered these once in the Raleigh area since COVID.
(Watercolor batik class at Anchoriight Studios in Raleigh NC)
Join me to learn two exciting watercolor techniques- pouring watercolor and watercolor batik. 2 day art technique workshops at Anchorlight Studios near downtown Raleigh, NC.
Watercolor Pouring
With an emphasis on design and planning, you will learn the technique of pouring diluted watercolor directly on paper. Pouring creates a wide range of colors and creates amazing blending effects. Through instructor demonstration, you will learn about masking, wetting techniques, using gravity to mix your limited palette, and preserving the transparency of your layers. Additional texture will be created using the mouth atomizer. You’ll choose your own subject matter: still life, landscape, architectural, floral, or portrait. All levels welcome, including first-time watercolorists.
Watercolor Batik
Learn a new painting technique using the batik method with watercolor. Watercolor batik is the process of using traditional watercolor paint and wax to create unique and beautiful batik-style paintings on Japanese rice paper. This process is similar to the age old technique where melted wax is applied to fabric as a resist and then the fabric is dipped in dye.
Students will begin the process with a drawing and then learn to create highlights and shadows, as well as how to mask areas of the project with wax.
This class is suitable for both beginner and experienced painters with little or no watercolor experience. Artists will create a 12×16” batik painting in the class.
Irons, electric skillets, newspapers, wax, and brushes for applying wax will be provided. Artists will need to bring watercolor paints, brushes, and suitable clothing (wax does drip and sometimes ends up on clothing).
Artists can use reference photographs provided for their drawings or are welcome to bring a high contrast photograph or line drawing to transfer to rice paper.
(IIcelands Diamond beach at Vatnajökull National Park. Iceland glacier and icebergs floating into sea at sunset watercolor batik painting Iceland home decor
All batik and pouring supplies included in price- you do not have to worry about ordering the supplies! Simply bring your normal watercolor supplies.
Domes of St. Nicholas and skyline of downtown medieval Amsterdam, Netherlands at sunset.
Landed in Raleigh after returning from a wonderful week with the Watercolor Art Society of Houston (WASH) and received this email:
Congratulations, Ryan! I’m very pleased to inform you that your painting, Amsterdam Skyline, has won Second Place in this year’s Watermedia Showcase competition. In recognition of this, you’ll receive a prize award of $____ + free Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($__ value). Our competitions manager will be reaching out to you about the prizes sometime in the next month or so. In addition, your winning painting and your artwork in general will be the subject of a full-length feature article in the Spring 2023 issue of Watercolor Artist magazine.
I am honored. I have entered this competition numerous times and always assume I am throwing my $40 bucks away every time. What do I know? It just shows that you cannot win (or lose) unless you try.
This painting is currently available (unframed) at Studio 1407-5 at Anchorlight. You can see it in person on December 3rd for our bi-annual Open House.
The City of Raleigh is doing a ton of sewer line construction in the area. Don’t worry- you can get to the studio but some of the surrounding streets may be closed. We WILL be open and you can park in our parking lots on 1407 S. Bloodworth.
See you soon. I will have a lot of new artwork available in the studio (framed and unframed). This is the perfect time to purchase art from a real living artist.
St. Paul’s Cathedral at night in the city of London, England. Watercolor painting LondonStatue of Liberty in New York Harbor at sunset- New York City, USA. Watercolor painting Statue Liberty artwork
Lots of new artwork available online. Check out my online SHOP. Free shipping (domestic US) for prints and originals. Quarter sheet (11×15″) original watercolor paintings. One of a kind artwork created using the magic of watercolor.
These paintings are all watercolors using a variety of techniques- pouring watercolor, dropping pure colors next to each other (kiss technique), scratching to create details (with a bit of dry-brush to also suggest architectural detail), and more.
Squirrel sitting on branch. Squirrel outdoors landscape artwork fine art watercolor squirrel wildlife animal painting
These paintings were all begun as demonstrations for my watercolor classes in the area- Wake Forest, Cary, Raleigh, and Durham. I am always trying to teach my students something different and we cover a lot of ground in my classes– layering, color theories, exploring different ways to mix colors, and much more.
Boats racing in regatta. Sailing boats tacking around buoy in sailing regatta- nautical artwork colorful painting water
Join me at my studio in Anchorlight (just a little south of downtown Raleigh) for our Semi-Annual open house.
My studio is busting at the seams with new artwork. Loads of unframed originals. Framed paintings.
St. Paul’s Cathedral at night in the city of London, England. Watercolor painting London
Sunset over canals and medieval architecture of Venice, Italy. Watercolor painting Venice Italy gondola boats church architecture sunset.
Anchorlight is a creative space, founded with the intent of fostering artists at varying stages of their development. Anchorlight provides a combination of artist studios, residency opportunities, and exhibition space. Through the establishment of an internal community of artists, designers, and craftspeople, Anchorlight encourages mentorship and the cross-pollination of knowledge and skills.
Founded in 2017 as a collaboration between James A. Goodnight and artist Shelley Smith, Anchorlight is home to 26 artist studios and a 1,500 square foot zero-commission gallery in addition to the Brightwork Fellowship. The first incarnation of the Brightwork program was also launched in 2017 and offered four artists per year a fully subsidized studio for one year, with a solo exhibition at the end of each artist’s residency.
Framed artwork of Chichen Itza ruins in Mexico. Poured watercolor technique.
Beginning in January 2022 the Brightwork Fellowship will become a fully funded residency program for North Carolina based visual artists. The Fellowship will provide a 500+ square-foot studio space at Anchorlight, an exhibition opportunity in our gallery, and an unrestricted financial award of $50,000.00 to one artist per year who is at a pivotal moment in their career.
North Carolina is home to artists with incredible talent, vision, and skill. Anchorlight has created an opportunity that will provide these artists with unparalleled support in the state they call home. It is the intent of the program to demonstrate to artists living and working in North Carolina that they are valued, worthy of investment, and that the voice they bring to the cultural discourse of our state is a vital facet of North Carolina’s identity. More than anything, this program intends to empower N.C. artists with the gift of time, space, and financial support to fully explore their creative potential.
Join us May 7th from 4-7pm. 1401 and 1407 S. Bloodworth St. 27610
Don’t miss the recent Redfin article I was featured in: “New Year, New Style: 15 Artistic Home Decor Tips to Bring Joy to Your Home”
With the new year in full swing, there’s a chance you’re looking to update your home with a new style – one that brings more joy into your home. There are countless artistic mediums – from ceramics to watercolor paintings—that will complement your home, whether you’re living in San Diego, CA, or Toronto, CA. But to truly find the right artistic home décor that speaks to you, you might be looking for a starting point.
To help you get started, I, along with other artists shared our best advice on the right decor that will bring joy to your home this year. Check out what we had to say so you can start decorating your home today!
