Illustration

10 Artists Who Use Water as an Inspiration

Explore the unique link between art and water through the works of Hockney, O'Keeffe and more. Immerse yourself in aquatic landscapes and portraits

March 22 is the date established internationally as World Water Day. The importance of this element, which is living one of the most complicated times in history due to climate change, goes beyond what we already know, which is its importance to live.

Today we want to give an artistic point of view to this day and tell you about 10 artists for whom water was more than just an element, it was their source of inspiration and an essential component in their works.

Claude Monet

ⓒ Adobe Stock
ⓒ Adobe Stock

The famous impressionist painter created several series of works dedicated to water, such as his water lilies and coastal views.

Hokusai

ⓒ British Museum
ⓒ British Museum

The Japanese artist is known for his work The Great Wave of Kanagawa and other depictions of the sea and waterscapes.

David Hockney

ⓒ David Hockney
ⓒ David Hockney

This contemporary artist has painted a series of pools, portraying the relationship between water and the environment.

Georgia O'Keeffe

ⓒ Collection SFMOMA Gift of Charlotte Mack y ⓒ Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
ⓒ Collection SFMOMA Gift of Charlotte Mack y ⓒ Georgia O'Keeffe Museum

Although she is best known for her paintings of flowers and landscapes of the southwestern United States, she also created works depicting bodies of water.

Winslow Homer

ⓒ Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
ⓒ Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

A 19th century American painter, Homer specialized in maritime and aquatic scenes, capturing the essence of the ocean and coastal life.

Helen Frankenthaler

ⓒ Helen Frankenthaler Foundation y © 2023 Helen Frankenthaler / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
ⓒ Helen Frankenthaler Foundation y © 2023 Helen Frankenthaler / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

A pioneer of abstract expressionism, Frankenthaler created works that suggest aquatic landscapes, using paint spilling techniques.

William Turner

ⓒ Met Museum
ⓒ Met Museum

Known for his romantic landscapes, Turner often depicted water in all its forms, from stormy seas to calm rivers.

Ansel Adams

ⓒ The Ansel Adams Gallery
ⓒ The Ansel Adams Gallery

Although best known for his natural landscape photography, Adams captured images of lakes, rivers and waterfalls, highlighting the beauty of water in nature.

Helen Chadwick

ⓒ Helen Chadwick
ⓒ Helen Chadwick

This contemporary British artist created works that explore the relationship between the human body and water.

Zaria Forman

ⓒ Zaria Forman
ⓒ Zaria Forman

Zaria Forman deals with a more troubling subject: through seascape paintings, her works are often inspired by climate change and glaciers.

Other links that may interest you:
- Online Illustration courses
- Illustration Tutorial: 5 Steps to Draw Poses
- Watercolor Tutorial: Paint a Leaf, Step-by-Step

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