I think that beauty, in whatever form, is vital to life. Fortunately, we are not without beauty, which comes in many forms. We most often think of it in formalized ways: theater, dance, 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art. But there is subtle beauty everywhere: in objects, in sentiments, in emotions, in the words we speak. I choose to bring this beauty into a physical, formalized form via watercolor painting. My goal, in this stage of my life, is to enable people to bring beauty, which touches them in some way, into their living environment.

The technique I use most frequently is wet-in-wet. It is a lot like life: I have some control, but there are many outside influences. I may choose which pigment to put down, but the paper, dampness of the paper and humidity all influences what happens to that pigment. The more experience I have, the more control I have. However, the result of the influences that are beyond my control is very exciting.

I learned technique by taking watercolor workshops through the years, reading books, and by trial and error! My artistic endeavors have had an ebb and flow until my recent retirement — now there is much more flow than ebb and I am loving it!

Please visit my online studio at: https://www.dlaystudio.com/