Originally posted on https://doodlewash.com/ainhoa-indurain-artist-from-therapist-to-watercolorist-or-vice-versa

GUEST ARTIST: “From Therapist to Watercolorist, or Vice Versa” by Ainhoa Indurain

Hello, my name is Ainhoa Indurain, and I am an artist, psychotherapist, gamer, mother, queer person, and a long etc. I am currently based in California, but I am originally from Spain, where I will be moving to shortly.

Most people would consider me a self-taught artist since I had no formal training. However, I feel more comfortable with “crowdsourced artist”, since most of what I have learned has come from watching others. Even the identity of artist can be complex since I recognize creativity always being part of my life.

I have practiced with media like oil, acrylic, or charcoal. But also creative writing of non-fiction, and short stories. I have also practiced sculpting, making jewelry, and digital painting.

Practice Drawing for Inktober

Because I am always curious to learn, in one of those latest journeys, I discovered watercolor. It actually started as a work team-building exercise, and I soon became enamored. In May of 2020, when a team-building activity paid for by my company led us to purchase and practice from a Let’s Make Art tutorial. It was a door.

The painting session was supposed to start while I was driving from the bay area to Lake Tahoe, and I joined about an hour late. With no instructions and just the reference image, I caught up with my coworkers in minutes, all while chatting with them.

You can see how proud I was that I even framed it (but I forgot to scan it haha) I was impressed at how much I enjoyed it and felt natural in it. Did I mention that I was 5 months pregnant? During the last months of pregnancy, watercolor became like meditation. Unfortunately, after my daughter was born, I developed a pretty severe postpartum depression, which impacted my health and happiness greatly. However, watercolor was still part of my life. I wish I had any images from when I was painting while carrying my daughter in the sling.

From time to time I had to shake and bounce a little to calm her, it was really precious. And from then on I realized how important art was in my mental health. My knowledge of mental wellness and personal experience with creativity allowed art to be a healing area of my life that I will always be so grateful for.

I combine my knowledge about mental health and my creativity often, and sometimes explicitly like in this blog about reducing perfectionism. In general, I am attracted by topics that touch me personally, like veganism, pop culture, and mental health. But I am also learning to let loose and just paint without a serious goal. This has helped me develop more of a practice.

I usually like to have a reference photo (and if someone is telling you that is cheating send them my way) and use sites like Unsplash for original, and well defined photos.

A painting from an Unsplash reference.

But it’s not the only way since I often paint just from imagination. You can see this in the latest work I have done around flowers.

I know everyone will recommend that you get a specific set of watercolors, a specific brush, this gadget you saw on TikTok, and this BIG BRAND that every artist seems to have. It is true that quality products are important to have a quality painting, however, it is not so important. Yes, you can skip the dollar store watercolor sets that come with that horrible red plastic brush.

However, you can start with affordable materials and slowly build up. Most brands will have a less expensive ‘student grade’ set of materials or ask others for hand me downs. Every watercolor artist I know gets super excited to share materials with someone who wants to try the medium.

My first professional set was a Holbein tube set. I really loved it and it continues to be my favorite. Before then and after I have continued to know what I like and what I don’t and I have my own decision-making for art supplies (one of them: all materials have to be vegan). However, that was an expensive investment that is really not necessary for everyone.

Could you say which one used better paper or paint?

What’s more, I would say that letting go of those standards will also contribute to the reduction of perfectionism. I have come to see practicing as a more important thing than the outcome. For that, I use every challenge that I can participate in so that I am motivated to continue painting.

I participated in last year’s Inktober, and most of what came out of it was average, but I had so much fun every day and it kept me going! Make sure you look into Doodlewash challenges, Facebook groups, or even challenges from artists you follow.

Ainhoa Indurain