Watercolor Art, Hickory, NC
Zan Thompson has always loved watercolor art even though he struggled with the medium himself in his early years. Perhaps his saving grace is the fact he was born into a family of watercolor artists which has greatly influenced his passion and his persistence for watercolor painting. Zan grew up playing and experimenting with art in his parents’ Atlanta studios. Of all the mediums, he loved watercolor but found it more difficult than the other mediums. In fact, he would get so frustrated with watercolor he would box up his brushes and paints to walk away. But his love for the medium would bring him back again and again till he finally conquered his frustration and found the joy and excited he had always expected. Today, Zan paints strictly in watercolor and teaches three different classes on watercolor and design.
Zan studied art in high school and at college before switching to the University of Georgia and switching majors to landscape architecture and later urban planning. Mr. Thompson ran his own landscape architecture and urban planning firm known as ZT3 Placemaker Studio, Inc.
After 40 years as a professional urban planner and landscape architect illustrating the environments in which we live with accuracy and detail, Zan now battles that need for accuracy and detail with his art which he says;
“calls for a looseness, spontaneity and suggestion that realizes the full benefits from the fluid opportunity of the Watercolor Medium. My art is a constant battle between detail and implied.”
His professional career plays a role in many of the subjects he paints. Zan likes to paint urban scenes and architecture subjects many ignore like alleys, industrial sites, construction sites and old buildings. He says it is usually the light and shadow of the subject that draws him to paint. He documents many scenes with a contrast that draws the viewer into the scene but leaves them with an appreciation for ignored subjects and a sense of having been entertained.
His training as a landscape architect also influences his desire to paint trees and flowers. He became interest in plants during high school when he worked for a plant nursery chain in Atlanta. While there he met landscape architects who got his mind pondering a possible different career than art. Landscape architects have to draw and illustrate their plans and concepts, so he saw it as a blending of two interest.
Mr. Thompson has another lifelong interest, Fly-fishing, and it too is reflected in many pieces of his art. And if that is not enough subjects to paint, Zan loves sailing with friends. He is captivated by the contrast of light-colored sails and boats against the dark water. Shrimp boats work as well, he says and there is the side benefit of usually being able to get some steamed shrimp and a cold beer somewhere nearby.
Whatever the subject, it seems Mr. Thompson has an eye for light and shadow and a desire to create art that will embrace the viewer and leave them entertained by his art. He paints both Plein-Air and in the studio.
Mr. Thompson is an associate member of the National Watercolor Society, Southern Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society, Watercolor Society of North Carolina, South Carolina Watermedia Society, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society and American Society of Marine Artists.