BY MARIO YACOUB
I am a semi-retired design architect and architectural illustrator and recently took up painting with watercolours. I am self taught but have learnt and been inspired by YouTube artists who have inspired me a great deal. Since March I have completed around a hundred paintings, sometimes on site, often at home. They’re often small, around A4, but I have done many as greeting cards for family and friends.
These are 3 very different paintings, the St. Paul’s Cathedral was done for my sister as my niece attends school on the grounds. It is kept in the study where my brother-in-law who is a barrister has hearings via zoom and has judges eye it behind him. The small alpine valley scene means a lot as I often go cycling and skiing in Austria. The Water lilies are from the Cow Pond at Windsor Great Park where I walked a lot over the summer.
Painting is very therapeutic and reduces stress. You don’t have to be a brilliant artist to enjoy its benefits, especially when so many of us are sat at home.
Make 2021 the year you started to paint. Pick up a brush kit and pad at your local art shop. Let your imagination take you away and find your inner talent.