EP #28 – Angus McEwan | Watercolour Mastery, Drawing, Observation, Texture, Creativity & Artistic Growth

Angus McEwan on Watercolour Mastery, Drawing, Observation, Texture, Creativity & Artistic Growth | Wet on Wet Podcast Episode 28

Watercolour artist Angus McEwan joins Sunil Kalbandi on Episode 28 of the Wet on Wet Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about drawing, observation, creativity, artistic growth, and the mindset required to build a meaningful career in art.

Recognized internationally for his atmospheric and highly detailed watercolour paintings, Angus has spent decades refining a unique artistic voice that combines technical excellence with storytelling, texture, and careful observation. His work transforms ordinary subjects—weathered doors, rusted surfaces, architectural details, interiors, and everyday objects—into compelling visual experiences that invite viewers to look deeper.

In this episode, Angus shares the experiences that shaped his artistic journey, beginning with a childhood fascination for drawing and leading through formal art education, museum work, teaching, exhibiting internationally, and eventually becoming a full-time artist and educator.

A Painter Who Uses Watercolour

One of the most interesting insights from this conversation is Angus’s perspective on the medium itself.

Rather than identifying primarily as a watercolour artist, Angus describes himself as a painter who happens to use watercolour. This distinction has influenced the way he approaches painting, allowing him to explore techniques and ideas without being constrained by traditional expectations of the medium.

His process draws inspiration from painting as a whole rather than watercolour alone, resulting in work that often pushes the boundaries of what many people expect from the medium.

The Importance of Drawing

Throughout the discussion, Angus repeatedly returns to the importance of drawing.

Strong drawing skills provide the foundation upon which every successful painting is built. He explains how studying master artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Rembrandt helped him understand observation, structure, and visual problem-solving.

For Angus, drawing is not simply preparation for painting—it is a lifelong practice that continues to influence every artistic decision he makes.

He also discusses how artists can improve their drawing abilities through observation, study, sketchbooks, and consistent practice rather than searching for shortcuts.

Observation: The Artist’s Most Important Skill

A recurring theme throughout the conversation is observation.

Angus believes many artists spend too much time looking at their drawings and not enough time truly looking at their subjects. Learning to observe accurately, compare shapes, understand relationships, and continually check assumptions is one of the most valuable skills an artist can develop.

Whether painting from life, photographs, or imagination, the ability to see clearly remains central to artistic growth.

Finding Inspiration in Everyday Subjects

Unlike artists who focus on a single category of subject matter, Angus remains open to anything that captures his attention.

A painting may begin because of a particular texture, an interesting play of light, a striking colour relationship, an architectural detail, or simply a feeling created by a place.

This openness has allowed him to develop a diverse body of work while maintaining a consistent artistic voice built around atmosphere, texture, and storytelling.

Materials, Process & Technique

The episode also explores many practical aspects of Angus’s process, including:

• Watercolour papers and surface textures
• Why he prefers Fabriano Artistico paper
• Framing and exhibition presentation
• Daniel Smith watercolours and colour selection
• Building custom colour mixtures
• Synthetic versus natural hair brushes
• Layering techniques and texture creation
• Sketchbooks and compositional studies
• Developing paintings from reference material
• Working on multiple paintings simultaneously

Angus also shares how experimentation has played a vital role throughout his career, helping him discover new approaches and continue evolving as an artist.

Learning Through Mistakes

One of the most valuable lessons from the episode is Angus’s perspective on mistakes.

Rather than abandoning paintings when problems arise, he encourages artists to work through difficulties and search for solutions. According to Angus, many of the most important breakthroughs happen while trying to rescue a painting that appears to be failing.

Mistakes are not interruptions to the learning process—they are often the learning process itself.

Creativity, AI & The Future of Art

The conversation concludes with thoughts on creativity in an age increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence.

Angus shares his perspective on AI-generated art, artistic originality, and the challenges new technologies may create for artists and art competitions. At the same time, he highlights why human experience, observation, interpretation, and personal expression remain irreplaceable aspects of creative work.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

• Drawing remains the foundation of great painting
• Observation is one of the most important artistic skills
• Artistic growth comes through practice and problem-solving
• Sketchbooks help develop ideas and compositions
• Experimentation is essential for long-term creative development
• Materials matter, but mindset matters more
• Mistakes can become opportunities for discovery
• Human creativity remains valuable in a rapidly changing world

About Angus McEwan

Angus McEwan is an internationally acclaimed Scottish watercolour artist known for his detailed and atmospheric paintings. His work explores light, texture, architecture, interiors, and everyday subjects through a distinctive contemporary approach to watercolour.

A former President of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW), Angus has spent decades painting, teaching, exhibiting, and inspiring artists around the world.

Connect with Angus McEwan

Website: https://www.angusmcewan.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcewanartist/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angus.mcewanartist/

Daniel Smith Feature: https://danielsmith.com/tutorials/angus-mcewan-watercolor-step-by-step-shadow-watcher-ii/

Listen to Wet on Wet Podcast

The Wet on Wet Podcast features conversations with leading watercolour artists from around the world, exploring their artistic journeys, techniques, philosophies, challenges, and lessons to help artists develop both their skills and their creative voice.

Host: Sunil Kalbandi

Website: https://kalbandi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunilkalbandi/