Stanislaw Zoladz

Born in 1952 in Krakow, Poland.
Resident and active in Stockholm since 1978.

Stanislaw Zoladz is undeniably one of Sweden’s most skilled watercolor painters, with an impressive list of achievements and exhibitions. Watercolor painting differs significantly from other forms of painting. With oil or acrylic, one can work almost endlessly, adding, subtracting, and layering methodically. Watercolor, however, requires working in an intense present moment.

Water acts as the magic wand that makes pigments on the paper come alive and dance, but only for a brief moment before it dries quickly. During that fleeting time, much must be conveyed — the impressions of the eye and years of experience must converge at the tip of the brush.

Describing this process, Stanislaw sounds like a mix of a Zen Buddhist and an athlete:
“You need to peak your form when heading out into nature to paint. If you’ve taken a break from painting, you think too much, lose your rhythm, and your ability to interpret colors becomes uncertain. I’ve learned that it takes a week to get back into it after a break. During that week, I have to discard almost everything I create. Then, when you start painting without thinking, it can go well. It’s all about concentration, about being fully present in the moment.”