“Painting is easy when you don’t know how, but very difficult when you do”

Edgar Degas

Degas’ words ring true, especially about the medium of watercolor. I found myself eager to learn watercolor in spite of its difficult nature, but because it is rich in the possibilities of expression.

Painting offers me a way to continue my creative life after retiring from a long career as an architect. I have found painting to be a marvelous way to understand the world. It has taken me to so many interesting places!

Surprising and Delightful

Throughout my entire life, I have enjoyed drawing, and I have put those skills to good use as an architect. During the last few years of my professional career, I was introduced to painting watercolor. I found it a fascinating, fluid medium and likely to produce surprising and delightful effects.

A World of Painting

Traveling to paint has been hugely rewarding. Watercolor is a portable medium and lends itself to impromptu plein air sketching. I have painted in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, England, Wales, Greece, Morocco, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Italy, and France. Over the years, I have been lucky to paint alongside the renowned, late, English painter Ken Howard RA OBE, British/South African watercolor painter Hazel Soan, and Uruguayan artist Alvaro Castagnet.

I will continue this journey of discovery because this path takes me through revealing lessons and to wondrous places. I hope to continue, to become increasingly competent at my art and craft, and to share with you when I can. 

John Shevenell

All works on this site not marked NFS are for sale. Inquiries via email.