Written by My name is Luiza Varovici. I was born in Romania and came to London in 2009 to fulfill my calling for art after travelling a lot in Europe. I found this was the most ‘arty’ place in Europe and, as well, I had a vision that this is the place where I will become fulfilled in art.
As I am self-taught, a first step was to be able to reproduce reality in pencil on paper. My teacher was Gene Franks and his amazing books on pencil drawing. He taught me to use the full range of pencils and helped my shading get right with his tutorials. I practiced my pencil in life drawing classes from 2011-2013.
The next step was to get my own style and for that I purchased Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way in 2013. While working on my diary that comes with this program, I started my quick sketches on the side of my pages, on the way to work. I got so hooked on this as I started to challenge myself and started to get portraits done in less than 30 seconds! ( how long can someone pose without posing?). Then in 2015, I had my first solo exhibition with all this work. With this new confidence, I then started to combine sketches and watercolour which brings me to today.
I followed with another exhibition in Grant Bradley Gallery in Bristol in November 2016 and today I take my sketchbook and watercolour pad around with me, wherever I go.
I love to portray the natural world first, flowers, and I love to capture their energy (are they sensitive? are they bold? etc). With the process of quick colouring I get to know my subject better: spring flowers are shy and the colour is almost transparent, summer flowers are bold and the colour is bold, also varies a lot if they are happy or not where they are and with the surrounding nature, flowers or if people take care of them! I can see all that while I sketch and paint and that gets me closer to the inner truth of the things around me.
I also love sketching and using watercolour for people, there was a time where in London for lunch this was my best subject!
My favourite materials are Pigma Micron Ink pens, Fabriano Hot Press small pads (12.5cm x 18cm) and Daniel Smith Extra Fine watercolours that I find very vivid and beautiful.
I will soon start a Drawing Class in my Kingswood Community Centre on 14th of September for only 30£/semester (10 weeks, Thursday, 6pm-8pm ) as I want to give all my knowledge to the people around me and I believe we should all give some of our time to our local community.
I encourage everybody to go out and capture nature and the world around them. You get to know where you live, you become more rooted, and not to mention, way more creative and happy!
I love this sketchy, free spirit drawing and loose watercolor method but I’m a tight, realistic painter and even with my pen & ink drawings. I will endeavor to give it a try as I like your work.
I enjoyed reading this article. The artist is very easy to read as well as the words…yet this shows in her paintings…easy, flowing, vibrant colors….this is a perfect example of keeping it simple. Thanks.
I love the simplicity of these drawings/watercolours yet they say so much about each subject. As a very new artist (but somewhat elderly in years!) I have always thought I should be able to do faithful, real-life reproductions in order to “be an artist.” The more I read of these posts, I am now beginning to understand how wrong and incredibly limiting my belief was. I am learning so much just from this post – and it is bringing me joy!
Lots of great energy and color combinations in your pieces!
I enjoyed this article ….. motivates me to open my eyes and take sketch book and watercolor with me more often!!!
Luiza, your art is delightful.
This is so good Luiza! I wish I could sketch and watercolor like you do. I’m still practicing! You’re really an inspiration to me. Keep it up! 🙂
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I’m really attracted to your style — it’s so free-feeling and bright. <3
Your line work is lovely!