Maria Pfohl

My name is Maria Pfohl. I am a watercolour Artist based in Canberra, Australia.  I am Hungarian, born in Transilvania/Romania, and migrated to Australia in December 1982, with my husband and two children.

Unlike many artists, I haven't painted all my life. My artistic journey started after retirement but, over the years, it became a passion and now forms a part of my daily life.

I consider myself a self-taught artist. While I attended a couple of evening courses locally, most of what I know comes from books, DVDs, online courses, a few workshops and a lot of practice. These specialised sources of knowledge have helped me acquire a greater understanding of the fundamentals of painting with watercolours and led me to the painting style that I prefer. My painting styles resembles Photorealism(which emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s). However, I often include elements of Impressionism (19th century) such as light and colour effects, as well as elements of imagination and emotion, which were celebrated by Romanticism (late 18th - mid 19th centuries). 

While Watercolour is considered a difficult medium, I happily persist on using it. It allows me to create colours and tonal interactions that are fascinating and unique. I love the interaction of colours on wet paper, the pleasant surpises that can be achieved by letting the paint do the work.

Each artist is different in terms of what inspires them. My inspiration comes from nature, from images that capture interesting stories, stories that leave an impression on me. My aim is to convey these emotions, through my paintings, to the viewer. I have alway had a deep affection for bright colours and that explaines the colorful flowers, birds and sunsets in my paintings.

Over the years, I have participated in a number of group and personal exhibitions and have been awarded a number a prizes. Most of my paintings can be viewed on my Instagram account at @Maria Pfohl