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Laurin McCracken

An award-winning realist watercolorist

Laurin McCracken (Meridian, Mississippi, United States) is an award-winning realist watercolorist who has applied her skills as an architect and photographer to watercolor. His paintings are in the permanent collections of the Fabriano Museum of Watercolor in Italy, the National Museum of China in Beijing, the Museum of the University of Mississippi, and other institutions; he has also participated in exhibitions all over the world. Currently, he is the Country Leader for the FabrinaoinAcquarello 2023 and the Chair of the FabrianoinAquarello Advisory Committee. In addition, he Works teaching watercolor to future artists in the making.

The artist inspiration

According to Laurin McCracken his work is largely influenced by by the Dutch and Flemish painters of the 16th and 17th centuries. His work highlights the high level of detail that is not tipically associated with the médium of watercolor, but can be easily observed in his paintings. One of his references is the quote by Henry David Thoreau: “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see” that he applies to his watercolors to add value. He himself defines being an artist as the combination of those abilities and a fundamental mastery of the craft that makes artists.

"Over the past few years, when painting an important painting (either a major commission or one that I want to submit to a major competition) I will usually paint with my Reserva Brushes immediately at hand and my Versàtil brushes right away behind them."

Laurin McCracken’s favorite brushes:

“In my own painting, my first choice is always the Kolinsky Reserva brushes. But, because I want to know what I am recommending to my classes, I most often paint with the Versàtil or Chronos brushes. Over the past few years, when painting an important painting (either a major commission or one that I want to submit to a major competition) I will usually paint with my Reserva Brushes immediately at hand and my Versàtil brushes right away behind them. When I need a stiffer brush, I want to have the Versàtil handy. In summary: the majority of the artists I see could do almost anything within their capability, and do it better, with a Versàtil brush. The better painters should be delighted with the way that the Chronos brushes handle.”

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