OK – the purpose sounds great – but what does it mean and how does it work?
Here it is again
My purpose is to work with watercolour in small adventures
to create memories of our yearning
to return to the Garden
Let’s take it one step at a time
- Purpose: Of course, Purpose runs deep. Our purpose drives all we do. Therefore it is a great blessing to understand our purpose before God. Luther asserted the possibility that one can ‘serve God within one’s calling. Calvin took the thinking further when he said “one can serve God by one’s calling”.
- Work with: There is so much going on with each swatch of watercolour! Water, paper, brush and colour are all too much to control. All of these affect the watercolour process. There are too many degrees of freedom. However, with time and practice the artist can learn to work with watercolour. It is a relationship. Relationships take time. And effort. And it is all infused with mystery.
- Watercolour: The work from this studio is fine art watercolour. The term “Fine Art” comes from metallurgy. For metals to be usable they must be refined – by Fire – a fitting metaphor. With each watercolour Stephen holds the tension between: “creating the best work in history of mankind” (Quote: Warren Louw) and “A thing worth doing is worth doing badly” (Quote: Stuart Briscoe). This is the narrow path between loose watercolours and a mess, between tight, well placed detail and stiff, over-controlled, rigid work.
I combine impressionism and detailed realism to create images to reach beyond what we see to touch these fleeting memories. - Adventures: Sitting in front of a sheet of paper with palette in one hand and a brush in another is an adventure for me. Taking this kit out into the field elevates the adventure. Sitting at The Pipe, Puddle Rock or Lourens River is a real gift.
- Memories: Sights, sounds or smells may stir transient but deep feelings. As if stimulating lost memories. I paint watercolours to do this
- Yearning: Ecclesiastes 3: 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. You may describe “yearning” differently – but there it is
- The Garden: this was more than just a lawn and some trees. This was a place of indescribable peace, intent and skill. A place of effortless creation. Oh how we want to get back there.
The Concept
The SJQ Watercolour business concept is to paint fine art watercolours at the high end of the craft – making the work accessible to fine art tastes through the highest quality print process.
Based on the work of Jim Collins, the business concept (what he called “The Hedgehog Concept”) is based on three questions. I used to run this for my consulting clients. Once a year I would reflect on my consulting through this lense. Then, one day, long ago I ran this thought-model on my Watercolour endeavour.
The first question is “What is your passion?” The moment I asked this question, I was filled with a sense of joy and relief. It felt like the heavens had opened and angels were singing. The one passion I know is this: I love to paint in watercolour. It makes no sense. There is no connection with brute logic. And yet: There it is.
These are the questions and this is how I answered them for SJQ Watercolour:
What are you passionate about?
Painting in watercolour is my raw passion. This is what I want to do more than anything else I can think of. Not oils or acrylics. Watercolour (with some pencil). This is as close to my “Why” as I can get.
What can you be the best at in the world?
I can be a collectable South African watercolourist. This is a mild goal. But also requires focus and application. “If you are fascinated by watercolour, you can make fascinating watercolour paintings”. Nita Engle
What is your economic denominator?
As a key measure I want to provide the best possible work to the people who want to add my watercolours and prints to their collections. My bi-monthly newsletter “Light is Sweet” is designed to stay in touch with this group.