I started painting in oils as a hobby in the UK and changed to acrylics while living in Canada. I developed an interest in watercolours while I lived in Vienna because they did not take up much room in a small house. I quickly became enamored with the wonderful flow and transparent nature of watercolour.
Acrylics, and acrylic mediums nowadays have tremendous versatility and advantages. They form the main focus for my art. However, I find that they don’t achieve the luminosity of watercolour on paper, even with acrylic inks. The disadvantage of a watercolour is its fragility that results in the need for framing behind glass. I have tried panels with watercolour-ready surfaces but have found them just no competition for good watercolour paper.
So now I use a combination of a base panel, watercolour paper fixed to the panel with acrylic medium, watercolours and acrylic paints. My first painting using this combination, Vienna Berries, is based on an experience in the Vienna Woods when I came across a very large thicket completely covered with a cloud of berries. I plan for other paintings using this technique to follow. I expect I will also continue with acrylic paints on canvas.