Meet Lieta Gratteri: Watercolor Painter.

It all began with a dream, for Lieta.  After raising her children, Lieta took a class and her dream began to come true.

“I have always been interested in different types of Art, but wanting to do Watercolors was a dream of mine. After raising my children, I took a class at Walters Cultural Center and that's all she wrote! I met a wonderful instructor that has become a close friend. Watercolor Painting has taken me to a level of really seeing what color, nature, and life has to offer us. We pass it by every day. I can capture this in my Art.”

And one of the most important parts of the art process to Lieta capturing feelings.

“My favorite part of the process in my paintings is working until I capture the emotion I am feeling, and trying to get it on paper.”

Lieta says inspiration comes from simplicity.

“What inspires me is usually the atmosphere. It can come thru with color, lines, light or many other things. Sometimes simple can be the best.”

Have you ever heard of a technique called granulation?  Lieta explains how she uses this weird technique in her paintings.

“The weird technique I use is granulation. When layering and layering colors over each other, rotating from warm and cool colors, you can get some amazing effects.”

You can see more of Lieta’s watercolor work and visit her studio during Washington County Open Studios tour October 18-19^th from 11am to 5pm.

What weird techniques do artists use in Hillsboro?

“I love rusty old found objects like rusty nuts and bolts, copper and steel shavings from an industrial metal process  and I use granite, marble, and mosaic glass called smalti,” explains mosaic artist Lynn Adamo.

Catherine Bede says, "I use a lot of wet-on-wet watercolor technique for very detailed flower paintings."

Wonder what weird technique or process you’ll get to see during Washington County Open Studios? October 18 and 19 from 11 am to 5 pm, 40 artists will be demonstrating their techniques for you. 

Lieta Gratteri, watercolor painter explains, “The weird technique I use is granulation. When layering and layering colors over each other, rotating from warm and cool colors, you can get some amazing effects.

"What has been challenging me is taking inspiration from historical patterns in art and architecture and integrating an element or style into my own artwork, especially in art journaling and bookmaking," says Valerie Sjodin, mixed media artist.

You can see art in the making October 18 and 19 from 11 am to 5 pm in the suburbs and country during Washington County Open Studios.  Get a tour map and directions FREE at www.washcoart.org