After a long hike in Utah under the summer sun, it became evident that I cannot count on my family’s participation for similar journey in future. Painting scenery from slot canyons, arches and geological wonders of the southwest becomes a way for me to indulge in the hikes. These are virtual trips, of course. But selecting the family photos to watercolor and studying the techniques to recreate the picture bring me back every bit of fond memory and joy as the actual hikes.
My art training started at a young age of 8 or so. I learnt from an art teacher every weekend, with other classmates who also enjoyed watercolor en plein air. In all honesty, at that young age, playing together in the countryside was perhaps the main motivation for attending the art class. However, over time we studied the watercolor techniques and by age twelve I won a city-wide art competition. Ironically, the achievement also marked the end of my formal art training, as the year after my family immigrated to the United States and I would be alienated from art for close to half of a century. But the love to relive hiking in the Southwest eventually brings me back to the original brushes I brought to the US. Since our 2016 family trip I have been painting various scenes, mostly from the American Southwest, but occasionally on other topics.
Juried art shows:
- 2019 Tempe Festival of the Arts, Tempe/Phoenix area, 12/6-12/8/2019.
- see the festival’s link to my artwork
- 2018 Art in the Pearl, Portland Fine Arts and Crafts Festival, 9/1 – 9/3/2018.
- see the festival’s link to my artwork
- 2018 Art in the Park, Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, 6/22 -6/24/2018.
The watercolor paintings are grouped into three categories:
After you click any of the links above, you can click on the painting you like and a more detailed page with description will pop up.
Next Painting:
Dear southwest hikers:
I have just uploaded my latest painting on 9/26/2019, with a scene from the Stevens Arch as viewed from the Crack in the Wall. Please see the Arch_etc link above. The next watercolor will come out roughly on 12/2/2019. It will be a scene from Phoenix/Tucson area, with saguaro and desert plants as the focus. Please come back often. Please use the contact form if you would like be notified when a new painting becomes available (generally once a month).
Reprints / Originals & Commission Service
The originals and giclee reprints are available from etsy, and then search “slotcanyonartist”. Or, click here.
If you are interested in the commission service, please use the contact form to contact me.
Other Links
I enjoy the following hikers’ sites. They have lots of professional grade photos.
© William Liu, all rights reserved
Slot Canyon Artist 