Artist’s Statement
“As a visual artist, I am constantly stimulated by the never ending variety of shapes and colors that surround us. It’s not enough just to replicate what I see but rather to interpret. Combining form with color relationships and bold values, I feel compelled to express my thoughts and emotions with strong, and often stylized, shapes. What I feel about the subject draws me to the brush. I have painted the monumental to the insignificant, each with equal passion. It all begins with an idea and a burning passion to create and express. That is the true artist. Everything else is merely technique.”
Sterling Edwards
Sterling Edwards is a contemporary
watercolor master
born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1951. At the age of twelve he was
introduced into the world of art through private oil painting lessons.
Soon he began experimenting with every medium at his disposal. In 1985
he began studying transparent watercolors and was captivated by the
freshness and luminosity of the medium. Influenced by watercolor master
and friend Zoltan Szabo, Sterling spent several years developing his
own unique style of painting with watercolors.
Primarily using large flat brushes, Sterling focuses on the design of the subject and the patterns of light and dark as the foundation for his paintings. Then he begins a process of conveying his thoughts and impressions with stylized shapes, bold lights and darks, and dramatic color rhythms. The result is an expressive painting that is often a balance of abstract and representational design capturing the mood and dynamics of the subject while presenting an individual and personal interpretation.
Sterling was a featured artist in the fall 2001 issue of Watercolor Magic Magazine in an article titled, “Ones to watch” and has been featured in numerous newspaper articles throughout the US and Canada. In 2007, he was elected as a signature member of the renowned Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, an international organization that recognizes those who have mastered transparent watercolors. Also in 2007 Sterling designed and introduced a signature set of watercolor brushes and a watercolor palette that are marketed internationally. He is the author of the book “Creating Luminous Watercolor Landscapes, a Four Step Process”, published by F&W Publications and is a featured artist in the book “Best of Watermedia in America, Volume II”, published by Kennedy Publishing Company.
In October 2008, Sterling became a founding member of “The Rusty Nail Painters”, an international invitational group of professional artists that meets every other year a week of plein air painting, critiques, and discussions on art. Sterling was awarded a signature membership in the revered Transparent Watercolor Society of America in May, 2010 and was a featured artist in the June, 2010 issue of Watercolor Artist magazine.
Many of Sterling’s original paintings reside in private and corporate collections worldwide and he is represented by several galleries in the U.S and Canada. He works from his home studio in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Primarily using large flat brushes, Sterling focuses on the design of the subject and the patterns of light and dark as the foundation for his paintings. Then he begins a process of conveying his thoughts and impressions with stylized shapes, bold lights and darks, and dramatic color rhythms. The result is an expressive painting that is often a balance of abstract and representational design capturing the mood and dynamics of the subject while presenting an individual and personal interpretation.
Sterling was a featured artist in the fall 2001 issue of Watercolor Magic Magazine in an article titled, “Ones to watch” and has been featured in numerous newspaper articles throughout the US and Canada. In 2007, he was elected as a signature member of the renowned Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour, an international organization that recognizes those who have mastered transparent watercolors. Also in 2007 Sterling designed and introduced a signature set of watercolor brushes and a watercolor palette that are marketed internationally. He is the author of the book “Creating Luminous Watercolor Landscapes, a Four Step Process”, published by F&W Publications and is a featured artist in the book “Best of Watermedia in America, Volume II”, published by Kennedy Publishing Company.
In October 2008, Sterling became a founding member of “The Rusty Nail Painters”, an international invitational group of professional artists that meets every other year a week of plein air painting, critiques, and discussions on art. Sterling was awarded a signature membership in the revered Transparent Watercolor Society of America in May, 2010 and was a featured artist in the June, 2010 issue of Watercolor Artist magazine.
Many of Sterling’s original paintings reside in private and corporate collections worldwide and he is represented by several galleries in the U.S and Canada. He works from his home studio in Hendersonville, North Carolina.