I was born in occupied Czechoslovakia in 1985. As such, my childhood experience was confusing. The experience of communist-occupied country was followed by newly adopted capitalist system, which knew not how to make head or tail of things. In the minds of the majority of population the mandatory 9 to 5 (in literal sense, it was 9-5 or a jail) remained the only way to go, even though after the revolution it wasn’t technically mandatory any longer.
I used to watch a British documentary about art history and artists in my pre-teens, when first western entertainment started trickling through the newly-open borders. To this day I remember vividly the episode about Vincent van Gogh. It’s one of those memories that can’t be forgotten. I knew right away what I wanted to be.
Despite this clarity I was perpetually denied the chance, and discouraged from doing so – surprisingly on the basis of not possessing the talent. On top of that, my failing health kept me close to home so any chances of attending art school of any kind were lived out purely in my dreams.
After my graduation from Business Academy I applied to a university with focus on creative marketing, where I hoped to finally make use of my creativity. I was not accepted. As a last resort I started a business-oriented university. It was not a good fit. My health was getting worse as days went by and I dropped out practically overnight.
My art journey began over 30 years ago in front of a television screen. Upon it close-up images of colorful little abstract shapes appeared and then as suddenly zoomed out to reveal a full-blown oil painting. The painting was replaced by another and another – each more captivating than the last. They all captured a world of utter wonder. They were representational but not quite realistic. The episode that aired that day was showcasing the work of Vincent van Gogh.
This was my first encounter with art and it imprinted a memory on my mind that won’t fade as long as I live. The experience was so profound that I knew beyond doubt that this was the world in which I wanted to be involved. Despite such clarity I wasn’t able to follow the dream. Obstacles, one after another, all but smothered the fire burning inside me. Fortunately, when the time was right the desire resurfaced, stronger than ever. Art became a channel for expressing my creativity but also a form of therapy. But it wasn’t only means of escape, it was also deep fulfillment that art provided.
I was born in communist-occupied Czechoslovakia. Even though the oppressive regime ended in my early childhood, living in post-communist country meant that self-education was a fairly new concept. I’d been raiding libraries and bookstores for years, always snatching up the latest art books as soon as they were translated and hit the shelves. But the quality of these publications was mediocre at best.
A number of years later something incredible happened. The internet became more accessible. No longer being cut off from the western markets, I utilized the little English I picked up in high school and in the years that followed amassed an impressive collection of art books and films that I’ve read and watched many times over. But even these superior publications didn’t address the essence of what lay behind creating a work of art. I could mimic others just fine and end up with a nice painting. But it wasn’t really mine and it wasn’t really art. I knew there was more to those nice colors and fancy brushwork. I needed to know how to think like an artist, not just how to paint like one.
My art journey began over 30 years ago in front of a television screen. Upon it close-up images of colorful little abstract shapes appeared and then as suddenly zoomed out to reveal a full-blown oil painting. The painting was replaced by another and another – each more captivating than the last. They all captured a world of utter wonder. They were representational but not quite realistic. The episode that aired that day was showcasing the work of Vincent van Gogh.
This was my first encounter with art and it imprinted a memory on my mind that won’t fade as long as I live. Perhaps its effects were so profound because I was born in occupied Czechoslovakia. Even though the occupation ended while I was a child, the ugly trail of a system so restrictive to any form of independent thought was still gripping the hearts and minds of general population.
Dedicating one’s life to the pursuit of art wasn’t normal. At best, painting pictures was a pastime for those who didn’t have anything better to do with their life. On top of that, art as the ultimate expression of human freedom wasn’t the career of choice under the communist rule. In the end, the lack of talent was brought up to settle the argument once and for all.
My art journey began over 30 years ago in front of a television screen. Upon it close-up images of colorful little abstract shapes appeared and then as suddenly zoomed out to reveal a full-blown oil painting. The painting was replaced by another and another – each one more captivating than the last. They all captured a world of utter wonder. They were representational but not quite realistic. The episode that aired that day was on Vincent van Gogh. The images stirred something profound in the young boy sitting in front of the TV like nothing else could.
This was my first encounter with art and it imprinted a memory on my mind that won’t fade as long as I live. I was born in occupied Czechoslovakia in 1985. As such, my childhood was confusing. Even though the occupation ended only 5 years after my birth, the dark and ugly trail of a system so restrictive to any form of independent thought was still gripping the hearts and minds of the generations who got the full blast of it.
Dedicating one’s life to the pursuit of art wasn’t something one did. Painting pretty pictures was what children did in school, or one did in their spare time if they really didn’t have anything better to do. On top of that, art as the ultimate expression of human freedom wasn’t a career of choice under the communist rule.
Finally, the lack of talent was brought up in the end to settle the argument once and for all.
The desire to become an artist never left me. I’d argue it only grew stronger. Like a seed waiting in frozen soil, the artist inside me hibernated until the temperature and humidity reached optimal levels. Once they did, there was nothing that could stop me from going after my dream. Still, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I’ve suffered from bad health since my birth and things were only getting worse as I reached my 20’s. Looking back, I believe it was art kept my head above water more than anything else could. I lived and breathed art, because there was either art or enveloping blackness of despair and suffering.
Around this time something incredible happened. Internet started to become more widespread and more robust. I had some basic understanding of English and I put it to good use. In the following years I built up an impressive library of art books and films that I’ve read and watched over and over. Thousands of pages and hours of art education poured into my mind to inspire, educate and sometimes numb myself. If someone asks me today where all my money I earned in my 20’s went, I just point at my library.
Things snowballed from there. Since I was completely self-taught the early days of my painting practice produced a body of work that as a whole made no sense whatever. It didn’t have any semblance of artistic identity. But a profound change started taking hold. It took a few years but it culminated in the year 2012. I found my voice. It was thanks to Frank Webb and it all started with his book “Webb on Watercolor.”
Only four years after my first exhibition, I had my second big solo show in 2013. It comprised of over 30 works that were simply outstanding and on a completely different level than my highly inconsistent first showing. That year I also won first prize in a major national competition and had the exhibition displayed a few more times at different venues. Seemingly things finally started to look up.
Fast-forward to my late teens and the artist inside me started stirring once again. In my early 20’s I started to get serious about pursuing art. This time there was nothing that could stop me from going after my dream. Still, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Art school was out of the question due to my increasing health issues and as could be expected, living in a post-communist country was severely limiting in terms of self-education. I’d been raiding libraries and bookstores for years, always snatching up the newest translations of art-related books as they hit the shelves. But the quality of these publications was mediocre at best. In these early years I struggled to find a foothold in my practice simply because I didn’t have access to quality information.
A number of years later something incredible happened. The internet became more accessible. No longer being cut off from the western markets, I utilized the little English I picked up back in high school. In the following years I amassed an impressive library of art books and films that I’ve read and watched many times over. Literally thousands of pages and hundreds of hours of art education filled every day of my life, partly because of my passion, partly because it numbed me to my ever-increasing health issues.
Like a seed waiting in frozen soil, the artist inside me hibernated until the temperature and humidity reached optimal levels. They did in my late teens. This time there was nothing that could stop me from going after my dream. Still, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I’ve suffered from bad health since my birth and things were only getting worse as I reached my 20’s. I lived and breathed art, because there was either art or enveloping blackness of despair and suffering.
As could be expected, living in a post-communist country was severely limiting in terms of self-education. I’d been raiding libraries and bookstores for years, always snatching the newest translations of art-related books off the shelves. But the quality of these publications was mediocre at best. For years I struggled to find a foothold in my practice simply because I didn’t have access to quality information.
A number of years later something incredible happened. Internet started to become more widespread and more robust. First attempts at online shopping were being made and not too long afterwards international shipping became available. No longer being cut off from the western markets I utilized the little English I picked up back in high school. In the following years I amassed an impressive library of art books and films that I’ve read and watched many times over. Thousands of pages and hundreds of hours of art education poured into my mind.
Despite this clarity I was perpetually denied the chance, and discouraged from doing so – surprisingly on the basis of not possessing the talent. On top of that, my failing health kept me close to home so any chances of attending art school of any kind were lived out purely in my dreams.
After my graduation from Business Academy I applied to a university with focus on creative marketing, where I hoped to finally make use of my creativity. I was not accepted. As a last resort I started a business-oriented university. It was not a good fit. My health was getting worse as days went by and I dropped out practically overnight.
"You can't choose what you're born into, but you can choose what you do about it."
As any chances of promising career went down the drain on account of not finishing my higher education, I started to take on meaningless jobs just to get by. But the artist in me was alive and well. He was just waiting for the right time, like a seed waiting in the cold earth for the temperature to rise.
It had risen just enough during one summer when I saw an exhibition featuring watercolors. Just like on the day I watched the van Gogh documentary so many years before, I knew right then and there that I was in love with the beautiful medium. Unlike in my childhood years, now I was able to do something about it. I immediately went to my local framer who was about the only person around carrying paints resembling anything else than elementary school cake paints.
Armed with a selection of tube paints, albeit of a dubious quality, I dived into painting with all my might. I pretty much spent all my money on supplies and books. I bought or borrowed every book on watercolor available. The selection was pitiful, but at that stage it was enough. These were years before internet became widely available. There was no online shopping, let alone international one. On top of that, my English was as pitiful as the book selection in my local bookstore. All available books were translated into Czech and Slovak anyway so there was really no need.
"Supplies don't make an artist. The most expensive brush in inexperienced hands appears worthless."
As years went by a consistent internet access became much more of a thing. I started researching outside the national market. Online shopping was slowly became available. Things started to look up for me. All, and I mean all, of my earnings went straight into my art. I accumulated a massive library of imported books and video DVDs.
People believe that bad things come in threes, but in my case, it was good things. After my first contact with Vincent van Gogh my life trajectory was forever altered. Same happened on that summer day when I encountered watercolor for the first time. Finally, as I was browsing the internet and looking for inspiration, I came across the website of the American artist Eric Wiegardt. His work captivated me like no other. It was the third time I felt this incredible connection to something well beyond my conscious understanding. It was my third eternal memory in the making.
While I always wondered what moves the artist to portray his subject in a certain way, it was only through Eric Wiegardt’s work that I learned about the role of design. And, being the unrelenting scholar by nature, design became my obsession. My focus shifted completely towards American artists. It wasn’t long before my obsession with design brought me to Frank Webb.
Weeks, months and years passed and at that point I was deep. I went all-in on the artist inside me. While I was unknown and unskilled, I did my best. I filled literally every hour of every day with art: watching demos, reading books, painting. This was partly my way of coping with severe health issues and my only relief was art.
"As I looked more and more into American watercolor I knew, once again, that this was it. I felt... at home."
During that time, among many others, I purchased a book by Frank Webb titled ‘Webb on Watercolor’. I didn’t know it yet because I was far from ready, but it was to become my Bible(?)(ultimate source, manual, etc…. what’s the word?)
My first solo show came a few years later in 2008. It wasn’t great, the venue wasn’t either but I got some positive feedback. My work was all over the place, I was miles away from having any semblance of artistic identity. Soon after my first show something made me revisit a book I got some time ago titled ‘Webb on Watercolor’. I only skimmed over its pages before but in the months and even years following my first show, I couldn’t get it out of my hands. I read and re-read the book dozen of times. Probably more. I read it so much, in fact, that it helped me perfect my understanding of English. On my first read I didn’t understand half of what I read, on my last I
"... a book I got some time ago titled 'Webb on Watercolor'... I read it so much, in fact, that it helped me perfect my understanding of English."
Through his book, Frank Webb single-handedly gave me the confidence and courage to explore my own potential. What he said in his books and DVDs connected with me on such a level I felt I met… Unfortunately around this time my health condition deteriorated rapidly and I had to take an absence from the job I was working at. This turned out to have been a blessing in disguise because during that one year in 2012 I had the opportunity to lose myself in painting… and through it find myself. My artistic identity formed that year with clear and bold outlines. I painted every day except Sundays, a habit that remained with me to this day.
My second solo show came along shortly after I returned to work in 2013. I also won first prize in a major national competition. My exhibition was displayed two more times. It felt like I was to become the “overnight success story”. But coming out with such quality so quickly after a mediocre showing only a few years back didn’t seem to agree with some people. After the three shows and the competition’s first prize the opportunities to exhibit and promote my work all but disappeared. I’d exhibited in my country only one time since then, unsurprisingly to no avail whatsoever.
"I also won first prize in a major national competition. My exhibition was displayed two more times. It felt like I was to become the 'overnight success story.'"
Since I was completely self-taught, my early body of work made no sense whatever. But a profound change started to take hold. It took a few years but it culminated in the year 2012. I found my voice. It was thanks to Frank Webb and it all started with his book “Webb on Watercolor.” I felt like I got a new lease of life. Thanks to Frank’s generous spirit and his depth of understanding I was able to lay foundations on which I built my entire painting practice.
Things snowballed from there. Only four years after my first exhibition I had my second big solo show. It comprised of over 20 works that were simply outstanding and on a completely different level than my highly inconsistent first showing. I also won first prize in a major national competition and had the exhibition displayed a few more times at different venues.
As it turned out it was naive to think that producing good work was a guarantee of success. If anything, it sprouted jealousy, mistrust and animosity all around me. A time of promise abruptly turned dark and in a split of a second all hope vanished. Around that time I started posting some of my painting demos on YouTube. I gained a small following but I never took it seriously. My practice started to suffer as my job and deteriorating health chew away at my enthusiasm and passion to create.
All hope seemed lost when a flicker of light emerged from the darkness as I was asked to join the ‘Julia Kay’s portrait party’ on Flickr. At first I struggled, as I never worked on portraits before. But I kept working, trying to figure things out. In time I got to a place where I truly found my own voice once again. This was some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done because it was truly mine, conceived in face of struggle and despair. To this day I feel a special attachment to those portraits. They truly helped me gain a more profound understanding of what art means to me.
While I had been running a blog for a number of years, it was only in 2022 that the idea to create a website dedicated to teaching came to fruition. My ultimate goal is to help anyone become an artist in their own right, truly independent and fully aware of their creative powers. I wish that my journey was more comfortable and straightforward. I wish that my life played out differently. But perhaps it’s exactly because nothing I achieved was ever handed to me that I can truly understand and appreciate what it takes to become an artist.
As a result, understandably so, my early body of work made no sense whatsoever. Eventually, however, a profound change started to take hold. It took a few years but I found my voice. I understood and finally, I discovered the underlying principles that lead to truly creative work. It was thanks to Frank Webb and it all started with his book ‘Webb on Watercolor’. I felt like I got a new lease of life. Thanks to Frank’s generous spirit and his depth of understanding I was able to lay the foundations on which my painting practice is built. I knew immediately not only that he knew, but that he was also a genuine and generous teacher.
Things snowballed from there. Only four years after my first exhibition I had my second big solo show. It comprised of nearly 30 works that were simply outstanding and on a completely different level than my highly inconsistent first showing. I also won first prize in a major national competition and had the exhibition displayed a few more times at different venues due to high interest in my work.
But despite such successful start the momentum as abruptly ceased. There was nothing I could do. In a split second all opportunities vanished without a trace. I eventually realized that there wasn’t any future for me as an independent artist in my own country. And so I started reaching outwards. I started a blog where I shared my paintings, ideas and experiences. I also started posting some of my painting demos on YouTube. And I joined a wonderfully welcoming community of portrait artists (Julia Kay’s portrait party), which helped me redefine the way I understood my work. This was some of the most important and satisfying work I’ve ever done because it was truly mine. To this day I feel a special attachment to those portraits. They helped me gain a more profound understanding of what art means to me.
My online presence helped me broaden my horizons, meet other artists and even make at least one true friend. It also helped me understand that there are many of us who never had got chance to get proper art education, whether formal or not. In 2021 I quit my job and started working on Creative Watercolor. Since there’s an ever-increasing amount of meaningless content flooding every corner of the internet, I thought long and hard about how I want to approach this project. And it took a number of iterations until I managed to come to a satisfying conclusion. Personally I feel that most content of today rapidly becomes the garbage of yesterday because hardly any of it has any real, lasting value. On top of that it’s created with algorithms in mind, not people. I wanted to make sure that what I do has the potential for true change and profound impact in people’s lives. My ultimate goal is to help real people become real artists in their own right, truly independent and fully aware of their creative powers. If you ever experienced what I did 30 years ago in front of a television screen then I’m here to give you the tools with which you can fulfill your dream.
Things snowballed from there. Since I was completely self-taught, the early days of my painting practice consisted from a body of work that as a whole made no sense whatever. But a profound change started taking hold. It took a few years but it culminated in the year 2012. I found my voice. It was thanks to Frank Webb and it all started with his book “Webb on Watercolor.”
Only four years after my first exhibition I had my second big solo show. It comprised of over 30 works that were simply outstanding and on a completely different level than my highly inconsistent first showing. That year I also won first prize in a major national competition and had the exhibition displayed a few more times at different venues. It seemed that things finally started to look up for me.
Unfortunately I was naive to think that producing good work was a guarantee of success. If anything, it’s something that leads to jealousy and mistrust. All opportunities seemed to vanish without a trace and “overnight success” wasn’t in the cards for me. Around that time I started posting some of my painting demos on YouTube. I gained a small following but I never took it seriously. I was discouraged and bitter. My work started to suffer as my job and deteriorating health both chew away at my enthusiasm and passion to create.
All hope seemed lost but a flicker of light emerged from the darkness. I joined the ‘Julia Kay’s portrait party’ on Flickr. At first I struggled, as I never worked on portraits before. But I kept working, trying to figure things out. In time I got to a place where I truly found my own voice once again. This was some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done because it was truly mine, conceived in face of struggle and despair. To this day I feel a special attachment to those portraits. They truly helped me gain a more profound understanding of my practice.
While I had been running a website where I published educational articles for a number of years, it was only in 2022 that the idea to create ‘Creative Watercolor’ was born. My mission is not to become just another “content creator,” but to provide true value. My ultimate goal is to allow anyone to become an artist in their own right, truly independent and fully aware of their creative powers.
Nothing I achieved was ever handed to me. None of it was achieved in comfort and peace. I built myself up from scratch as an artist and anyone with the ability to appreciate true depth of my work
A less stubborn person would probably take the hint and finally put the brush to rest. But I did the exact opposite – I kept working. Maybe it was because I needed to hold on to something. Undoubtedly my work suffered as the pressures in my work and degrading health chew away at my enthusiasm and passion to create. I call this my ‘dark period’. But there was one bright twinkling light in all that darkness. I joined the ‘Julia Kay’s portrait party’ Flickr group.
At first I struggled as I never worked on portraits before but in time I got to a place where I truly found my own way to deal with portraits. This was some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done because it was truly mine, conceived in face of struggle and despair. To this day I feel a special attachment, a sentiment tying me to those works despite the darkness that surrounds their inception. Perhaps it’s through them that I managed to keep on keeping on.
"A less stubborn person would probably take the hint and finally put the brush to rest."
I was included in a book ‘Portrait revolution’ that released in 2015 and even shown one of my portraits in San Fransisco.
I’ve been active online for several years, starting on Flickr then Facebook and Instagram and I’d been making simple YouTube demos for a few years. I’m so grateful for all the connections and friends I made online.
By this time one could make the mistake o thinking that I was a US-based artist but I actually never managed to leave Slovakian borders. I never managed to meet the people I admired, who helped me along the way. It just wasn’t in the cards for me. My health wasn’t permitting me to materialize my dreams of living and working in the States and so a toiled in a job I loathed in a country that had no love lost for me. My prolific, passionate practice came to a halt.
In 2021, after the second most stressful year in my life I finally quit my job. I immediately started to work on this website to give my life a purpose and to rekindle that so precious enthusiasm for life I’d always had. While I’m certain many people meet worse fate than mine, I am certain I wouldn’t be here was it not for my art.
If you wonder why I insist on teaching watercolor in a different (I believe more meaningful) manner, you should have your answer by now. While I’m not focusing on art therapy, I know that through becoming a true, independent artist, one is able to overcome a lot. That’s why I give you the tools to not paint pretty pictures while keeping you in the dark, but make you into an actual artist in your own right.
