As part of our Artist in Residence program, watercolor artist Nadja Peschke guided students visiting for our School Overnight Program to explore the beauty of nature through plein air painting. With sketchbooks in hand and the forest as their inspiration, students slowed down, looked closely, and expressed what they saw and felt through art. We caught up with Nadja to reflect on her practice and what she hopes the students took away from their time together.
What art medium(s) do you specialize in?
Watercolor painting—specifically en plein air (painting outdoors).
What draws you to watercolor?
While there are plenty of techniques to guide the process, what I love most about watercolor is that you can’t fully control it. The water and pigments have their own mind, and the best results come when you yield to that flow. I also love how compact and travel-friendly watercolors are—unlike oils or acrylics, they fit easily in a bag and go wherever I go.
What do you love most about the medium?
At its root, art is an emotional outlet. When you paint a scene in front of you, it becomes a reflection of both your mind and what you see. That’s what makes plein air painting so powerful—it marries the individual with the natural world. And when that work is shared with others, it becomes a kind of storytelling. Whether it takes five minutes or an hour, every painting holds value in the memory it captures.
How does nature influence your work?
I studied painting in school, but I became a painter in nature. It was my companion on solo trips through Norway and Spain—my way of journaling without words. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, I’ve taken paints on hikes and even trail runs! Sometimes I just carry a tiny palette and paper the size of my palm; other times it’s a full backpack. I love incorporating the water around me into my paintings—especially seawater! The salt creates fascinating effects in the pigments and gives the piece a sense of terroir, like a taste of place.
Students in our School Overnight Program painting with watercolors down at Mac’s Pond.
What do you hope students in the School Overnight Program take away from their experience with you and your art sessions?
We covered techniques like “wet into wet,” letting gravity guide the paint, and understanding value and color through observation. But more than that, I hope they remember that art isn’t about perfection. I saw students experiment and have fun—that gave me so much joy. I hope they start to see painting as a tool to understand the world, just like a scientist does. A scientist takes notes on patterns and changes; a painter takes visual notes on light, shape, and color. And like science, trial and error is part of the process!
Each student brought their own lens to the experience, and I hope they continue to paint without pressure—just for the joy of it. That’s when the real magic happens.
Students working on their art with Artist in Residence, Nadja.
Learn More
- Want to know more about the Artist in Residence program? Check it out here.
- Want to help support the program? Thank you and please reach out to [email protected]!
- Want to be a visiting artist? Learn more and apply here.
