EP #13: Andrew Pitt | Painting Honestly & Seeing Simply in Watercolor | Wet on Wet Podcast

In this insightful thirteenth episode of the Wet on Wet podcast, host Sunil Kalbandi sits down with celebrated British watercolorist Andrew Pitt for an absorbing conversation on the timeless principles of painting with simplicity, truth, and character. With over sixty years of plein-air experience along the East Anglian coast, Andrew shares his quietly radical philosophy: that freshness, honesty, and deliberate mark-making matter far more than perfection or fashion.

From his childhood fascination with local barges in Maldon (Essex) to a lifetime of teaching and painting the luminous marshes and skies of Suffolk, Andrew reflects on closing the lifelong gap between vision and execution. He offers deeply practical wisdom for watercolor artists—covering drawing discipline, tonal awareness, edges, composition, and the elusive “once-only” brushstroke that keeps a painting alive.

Listeners will find this episode a grounded masterclass in watercolor fundamentals—infused with humor, humility, and decades of painterly truth.

Guest – Andrew Pitt
Website: https://www.andrewpitt.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewpittartist/

🖌️ Host – Sunil Kalbandi
Website: https://kalbandi.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunilkalbandi
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sunilkalbandi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571607046430

Key Insights and Quotes from Andrew Pitt

• “Every mark you make is drawing—it just has to be in the right place.”
• “Tone and drawing do the hard work; color gets the glory.”
• “Paint once, as carefully as you can. That’s how you keep watercolor alive.”
• “Freshness comes from confidence, not looseness.”
• “A painting should suggest—let the viewer finish it in their own imagination.”
• “The only real competition in painting is with yourself.”

Techniques, Materials & Principles Discussed

• Tone & value discipline — why tonal control outweighs color choice in impact.
• Edges & variety — soft, sharp, broken, and fuzzy edges as expressive tools.
• Drawing as foundation — how continual sketching builds accuracy and confidence.
• Simplifying subjects — choosing scenes for structure and avoiding early over-complexity.
• “Once-only” brushwork — finishing each area decisively to preserve life and intent.
• Warm vs cool light — observing temperature shifts to convey time of day and mood.
• Correcting & accepting mistakes — how “redeeming defects” add authenticity.
• Influence & individuality — painting true to your temperament and environment rather than trends.