I'm here now
Explore "I'm here now", a fluid, intuitive abstract watercolor by Johan Kohlin. This meditative piece uses soft washes of rose, deep umber, and touches of gold to capture the subtle emotion of a profile emerging from the mist. A study in presence and restraint.
Intuitive Watercolor: A Meditation on Presence
This piece, “I’m here now”, is not a study of an existing subject, but rather an act of listening. It is a completely intuitive exploration, where I allowed the water and pigment to guide the brush, revealing a form that feels both personal and universal.
The Artistic Process: Letting Go
The creation of an intuitive abstract in watercolor is a study in surrender. The medium itself, dynamic, fluid, and unpredictable, becomes a collaborator. My process here was to release the need for control and instead respond to how the paints interacted on the page. A profile emerged from the soft pinks and deep umbers, almost by chance, telling me to stop, that it’s all good now, -Just stay here and now.
- Medium: Professional Watercolors (Rose, Umber, Gold, Charcoal) on 300gsm Cold-Press Paper.
- Inspiration: Mindfulness, vulnerability, and the interplay of color and shadow.
- Key Features: Soft edges, ethereal washes, and a focus on atmospheric emotion.
The Discipline of Restraint
- A Practice in Precision: Intuitive abstract requires a unique decisiveness. Unlike acrylics, which offer endless layers of modification, watercolor demands that I know exactly when to stop, or rather listen to the painting when it’s telling me to put the brush down and just breath. The challenge lies in respecting the medium and allowing the "white space" to remain as intentional as the pigment itself, resisting the urge to overwork the natural beauty of the wet-on-wet blend.