Joseph Stoddard on Joseph Stoddard

Never let reality stand in the way of a good painting. This has been my goal for the past twenty years as I have struggled with the challenging medium of watercolor. I want people to get an emotional response from my paintings and sketches and to be charmed and surprised by my interpretation.

My work is about capturing city scenes, landscapes, architecture, and gritty urban-scapes in pen and ink, watercolor, pencil and pastel. My goal is to capture the moment, the color of light, the feeling, and mood of my subject. I want the final paintings to look as if they were torn from the pages of the sketchbook: full of rough energy and texture. Pencil lines, paint splashes and splatters, and errant pen strokes are all part of the piece. Sometimes I will add notes, a study sketch, sounds, fragrances and weather. These touches add immediacy and an accessibility that people can relate to, and engage with.

I am a principal at SKA Design, an environmental graphic design firm in South Pasadena. I have been featured in Artist’s Sketchbook Magazine, American Artist Watercolor Magazine and American Artist’s Watercolor Highlights and is the author of three books: Pasadena Sketchbook, Redlands Sketchbook and Expressive Color. I taught graphic design at Art Center College of Design for many years and am a frequent lecturer and demonstration artist throughout Southern California.