About Gail Speckmann
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Gail Speckmann of Plymouth, Minnesota is a national award-winning watercolor artist, instructor, judge, and author. Her book, Wet-into-Wet Watercolor (Watson-Guptill), is considered one of most definitive instructions of this challenging technique. She had conducted classes throughout North America and several European countries. Gail’s travel experiences have had a broadening influence on her painting. Her subject matter includes landscapes, florals, still life and abstracts. She is most recognized for her wet-into-wet technique, strong color, and composition.
Gail’s paintings and reproduction prints are hung throughout the country
Gail’s paintings and reproduction prints are hung throughout the country
in both residential and business environments. She maintains a substantial inventory, but also will do work on a commission basis. She has her signature membership in Watercolor West, a national transparent watercolor society. She has judged several state and regional shows including Minnesota State Fair Art Exhibition (watercolor division), Creative Arts Center Annual Exhibition (Chatham, MA), “Arts in Harmony” (national), Artists of Minnesota’s annual exhibition, and “Extremely Minnesota” annual competition. Gail is listed in Who’s Who in America.
Biography
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Gail Speckmann
In my work I am particularly interested in the energy that a subject expresses. This is revealed through color, value, mood, and rhythm. These elements are inherent in the subject, but also arise from my personal response to it. The subject may range from an expression of exuberant life as in a garden, travel scenes that awaken new awareness, the spare remains of life in the form of washed up and broken seashells, or more abstractly as an emotion or concept. The patterns are there and simply need to be revealed and enhanced. I am ever interested in the abstract qualities to be distilled by in the composition.
My painting process is wet-into-wet watercolor, which may also include passages in acrylic and ink. I am especially fascinated by the way the wet paint disperses on the wet paper surface. It has a natural beauty which I seek to both work with and direct. For me, the painting experience is a meditative and living conversation. In addition to the paint, the pastels or watercolor crayons help to define the work, giving much of the rhythmic quality in the paintings. I have spent a great amount of time exploring the various paints and papers in order to maximize the most positive results.
The pursuit of painting will never reach the end of intrigue for me if I can truly respond to the uniqueness of each creation and stay open to the possibilities that arise through the process itself. Creating is an unending joy.
Gail Speckmann
In my work I am particularly interested in the energy that a subject expresses. This is revealed through color, value, mood, and rhythm. These elements are inherent in the subject, but also arise from my personal response to it. The subject may range from an expression of exuberant life as in a garden, travel scenes that awaken new awareness, the spare remains of life in the form of washed up and broken seashells, or more abstractly as an emotion or concept. The patterns are there and simply need to be revealed and enhanced. I am ever interested in the abstract qualities to be distilled by in the composition.
My painting process is wet-into-wet watercolor, which may also include passages in acrylic and ink. I am especially fascinated by the way the wet paint disperses on the wet paper surface. It has a natural beauty which I seek to both work with and direct. For me, the painting experience is a meditative and living conversation. In addition to the paint, the pastels or watercolor crayons help to define the work, giving much of the rhythmic quality in the paintings. I have spent a great amount of time exploring the various paints and papers in order to maximize the most positive results.
The pursuit of painting will never reach the end of intrigue for me if I can truly respond to the uniqueness of each creation and stay open to the possibilities that arise through the process itself. Creating is an unending joy.
