Here you will find articles written by highly regarded professionals on the history of watermedia (inclusive) and watercolor as a medium.

Our goal is to highlight watermedia history in general as well as compare and contrast Eastern and Western development.

As this section expands, it is intended to also include perspectives and techniques in watermedia painting from a variety of our members.

WHS is fortunate to have been given permission to use the following four very informative articles by Cheng-Khee Chee, Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Patricia Crown, a Professor of 18th and 19th Century Art at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Robert Lee Mejer, Distinguished Professor of Art at Quincy University and Laurin McCracken, Fabriano in Watercolor Country Leader USA.

A Survey of Watercolor Painting in the 20th Century – Excerpts

A tribute to the first Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary International Watermedia Masters Cheng-Khee Chee, Associate Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota, Duluth.

 Survey Survey of Watercolor – Chee (PDF)

The Golden Age of British Watercolor in the l8th
and 19th Centuries

Dr. Patricia Crown, Professor of l8th and 19th Century Art History and Women’s Studies at the University of Missouri- Columbia

 Survey Golden Age of British Watercolor – Crown (PDF)

History of Watercolor Painting

Robert Lee Mejer NWS, WHS, TWSA-Master and ISEA-Nautilis Fellow, is a Distinguished Professor of Art at Quincy University.
He served as WHS President from 2012-2016.

 History of Watercolor Painting – Mejer (PDF)

History of Modern Watercolor w Illustrations

Laurin McCracken, AWS, NWS, WHS, FabrianoinWatercolor, Country Leader USA, was WHS President from 2016-2020.

 History of Modern Watercolor w Illustrations – McCracken (PDF)