I. The project Renewal-Art [GreatArts]
Renewal-Art [GreatArts]
Renewal-Art [GreatArts] is my independent project that revolves around traditional painting, especially watercolour painting. Renewal-Art is my artist name. It derives from Renewal-Art [GreatArts] is my independent project that revolves around traditional painting, especially watercolour painting. Renewal-Art is my artist name. It derives from my strong enthusiasm for all kinds of art. Whether it's music, literature, comics and manga, painting or art history.
All of these subject areas inspire me, provide me with inspiration for my works and help to make my dream come true: To be part of the active art community as an artist and to convey the joy of traditional painting to others.
Renewal-Art [GreatArts] therefore not only describes my desire to be active as an artist myself, but also to promote productive exchange with many areas of the art world, to get to know great other artists from various fields of art and to support and publicise their work.
II. About
Hi,
I am Bernd Appel. I come from the beautiful town of Buchholz in the Nordheide in Lower Saxony. I am lucky to have many wonderful landscapes such as the Lüneburg Heide right on my doorstep, which is why I get many impressions for my pictures directly from the neighbourhood. My primary passion is watercolours and their special magic.
I started getting more serious about watercolour painting in December 2022 and immersed myself in the subject through online courses, workshops and art classes. I currently work mainly with watercolours. Only occasionally do I add other mixed-media elements such as coloured pencils, pencils or felt-tip pens.
At the moment my art is mainly focussed on painting landscapes and animal illustrations on DIN-A5 to DIN-A4 paper.
III. About my art
Watercolour painting as a hobby
In addition to my full-time job, I am passionate about painting and drawing, enjoy experimenting and always trying to develop and expand my artistic skills.
I mainly work with watercolours, but I also draw manga, write for scientific periodicals on literature and art and occasionally try my hand at other art forms such as film art or literary writing.
I generally work in a relatively structured way and like to give my brushstrokes and flowing colours the right shape and direction. However, when the muse kisses me, it can also happen that I let the colours flow relatively freely and enjoy a mostly unpredictable but also surprising result.
IV. My watercolour learning process
Watercolour courses with Mary-Lou Ploß
In December 2022, I took part in a watercolour painting course by Bergerdorf watercolour artist Mary-Lou Ploß for the first time at the Staatsbücherei am Hamburger Rathaus. I was immediately captivated by her cheerful, creative and open manner and her enthusiasm for working with watercolours, and I resolved to attend her courses more regularly. Over the course of 2023, I then attended various individual courses and an eight-week beginners' course as well as a summer course with Mary-Lou, which took place in the very atmospheric Bergedorfer Kreativ-Kate. These courses taught me a lot about the basic techniques of watercolour and I was able to continuously develop my skills thanks to Mary-Lou's helpful tips and instructions. Even now - in 2024 - I still attend Mary-Lou's courses at PLIETSCH in the centre of Bergedorf whenever I have time and learn something new every time.
Since 2024, I have also been learning the finer points of watercolour through online courses, such as those presented on the creative platform Domestika. Among other things, I took part in a certified course by Spanish watercolour and mixed media artist Ana Santos on the subject of portrait drawing with watercolour.
V. Where do you find me?
You can often meet me and my art in person at smaller conventions in northern Germany, such as the Comic- und Manga-Convention in Hamburg or the Comic- und Manga-Convention Bremen.
Since February 2024, I have been trying to be a regular artist in the Artist Alley there and present my watercolour art to you. I'm currently still experimenting a lot and expanding my stand. So there is always something new to see. :D. Feel free to drop by if you are in the neighbourhood.
I'm currently trying to expand my presence to other cons and art markets so that I can interact even more with other great artists.
Find me on social media
In addition to my website, you can also find many of my works on Instagram (@renewal_art_greatarts).