The Artistic style of Watercolor Artist Simone Wood
Watercolor artist Simone Wood is celebrated for her bird paintings, inspired by Ikebana (the Japanese art of flower arranging) and her background as a floral designer and bird watcher. Wood emphasizes harmony, balance, and simplicity, often focusing on the line and form of the arrangement rather than the environment in which it exists.
Her arrangements typically emphasize the natural beauty of birds, stems, leaves, and flowers, creating a sense of tranquility and connection with nature. Wood prioritizes capturing the mood and essence of birds over detailed anatomical accuracy. The work of watercolor artist Simone Wood captures fleeting moments of birds in motion, often taking liberties with natural bird colors to highlight certain aspects of the subject and further captivate the viewer’s attention.
Wood’s compositions’ use of white space is significant, drawing attention to the subjects. Personal experiences, including early bird watching with her father, influenced her choice of subjects. She often portrays birds in poses suggesting movement, aiming to resonate with viewers. Wood’s background in floral design shapes her artistic vision and techniques. She embraces the unpredictable nature of watercolor, seeing challenges as opportunities for growth. Her work also touches on the healing power of art, providing a calming presence in stressful times. The work of watercolor artist Simone Wood captures fleeting moments of birds in motion.
Wood’s work can be purchased at Art MoB Gallery in Hendersonville, NC, and at The Lucy Clark Gallery in Brevard, NC
An Interview watercolor artist Simone Wood
RRM: Simone, you began focusing on art from high school art class influences to your work in floral design. How do these varied experiences contribute to the distinctive style and technique you bring to your watercolor paintings of birds?
Simone Wood: Ikibana’s design significantly contributes to my painting style. The subject, which is birds and maybe a branch or flowers, is very simple and sparse, bringing more attention to the subject.
RRM: Your approach to watercolor often starts with a spontaneous element, such as a splatter of paint. Describe how this method sets the foundation for your creative process and influences your artwork’s final composition.
SW: The unique process I use for splattering has been learned throughout my years of professional painting. When I look at a blank “canvas, “I Imagine a particular bird’s position. This depends entirely on the brush, the amount of paint versus water, and how I want the splatter to hit the paper To achieve the energy I want in that particular splatter. I should note that it doesn’t always go according to plan, and not to waste my paper, I have to move very quickly and decide on what that applied splatter will be. Sometimes, it is not a bird, a flower, or a branch.
RRM: In our previous conversations, you mentioned using artistic license to modify the natural colors of birds in your paintings. What influences your color choices, and how do you balance realism and expressionism?
SW: I like to use artistic license on specific birds, maybe a hummingbird or finch. This helps to create more visual interest in that particular bird. For instance, if I were to paint a hummingbird and add touches of purple to the wings or orange in specific parts of its body, it could become a magical, whimsical subject.
RRM: White space is a significant element in your paintings. How do you decide the amount of white space to use, and what do you feel it adds to the viewer’s experience of your artwork?
SW: Using white space as part of the art can be tricky. When I paint a large painting, and I’ve chosen the bird subject I will use, I have to decide where I will place that on the paper before I start painting. If there isn’t enough visual interest in balance after painting the bird, I will add a branch, leaves, or flowers. Doing so allows the eye to move from the bird to the branch or leaf. I need to make sure that there is cohesive movement.
When I paint a sizeable eastern bluebird, for example, and the bird’s position is looking back, I need to give visual interest as to what the subject may be looking at. I could add a splatter of paint to represent a dragonfly or something that might represent the sun. At times, my subjects need to have a suggestion of an object from the clarity of my painting.
RRM: Many artists strive for detailed accuracy, but you prefer to capture the mood and essence of birds rather than focusing on detailed anatomical accuracy. Can you explain your philosophical approach to this choice and how it enhances the emotional impact of your paintings?
SW: Over the past few years, I began focusing on my larger bird paintings, the eyes, bodies, and beaks. Attention to a more detailed “image, mood, and background” or IMB captures the viewer’s attention immediately, connecting them with the bird. When I paint the larger scaled works and focus on their eyes and beaks, they spring to life before my eyes, pardon the pun. The more I work on these details, the more I am learning how important they are for these larger paintings.
RRM: Nature, particularly birds, is a recurring theme in your work. How do personal experiences, like your early bird watching with your father, continue to influence your choice of subjects and the stories you tell through your art?
SW: It’s been said that the more mature you are, the more attention you pay to birds. I have to agree with that statement. I love watching birds at the feeder or in their natural environment when walking with our dog, Marley. Birds are fascinating creatures; their nesting, mating, and simple perch on a branch intrigues me. This is a significant influence in my bird paintings. There must be a subconscious feeling.
RRM: In your work, you focus on capturing birds in poses that suggest movement or a moment just before action, such as a bird about to take flight. Could you delve into your thought process behind these fleeting moments and how you envision them resonating with the viewer?
SW: When capturing birds in motion, I focus on the intensity in their eyes. I’m intrigued by how a bird can transition from a posed position to flight in seconds. This rapid change mirrors the challenges faced by early flight pioneers, who likely shared my fascination.
RRM: Your artistic journey took a significant turn when you transitioned from floral design to painting. How did your experiences in floral design shape your artistic vision and techniques in watercolor painting?
SW: When I worked at Biltmore, I made very grand arrangements and, during the Christmas season, had to Design rooms with the coordination of plants, floral arrangements, and highly tall Christmas trees. When I created my plans, I often sketched them out and painted roomettes in watercolor. When I decided to retire From Biltmore, I knew that the peaceful and serene watercolor projects would be very welcoming after the intense, hard work at Biltmore.
RRM: You mentioned that the unpredictable nature of watercolor can be both challenging and rewarding. Can you share a time when a painting evolved unexpectedly and what you learned from the experience?
SW: I often tell the story about how I knew splattering would be one of my trademarks. In one of my first paintings of a cardinal at my home studio, I was getting frustrated with how the painting was coming out. I had paint on my brush and just threw it onto the paper. I left the room for a few days, and when I returned, it looked like the cardinal had taken flight. How the splatter hit the paper and the intensity of the colors I had on my brush was terrific. I’ve been trying to perfect that same look ever since.
RRM: As an individual who has contributed to healing through art, such as by gifting a painting to a grieving stranger, what significance do you think art has in healing or creating a calming environment?
SW: There are proven results that Art is therapy. I’ve met art therapists in many genres, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, music, and dance. The success stories of healing through Art are very touching and uplifting. When my life gets a bit too stressful, music and painting bring me a sense of peacefulness.