Lou McKernan Art
Welcome
I hope you enjoy browsing through my collections of watercolor paintings. Please email me at lou.mckernan@yahoo.com, or use the contact form below, to make a purchase, or with any questions or comments.
I’d love to hear from you!
Follow me on social media:
@loumckernan_art
Lou McKernan Watercolor Art
Why are my prices so low?
I am comfortably retired and began dipping my toes into the art world as a hobby to keep me amused in this next chapter of my life. Before I actually began painting, I spent many, many hours watching YouTube painting videos by a myriad of accomplished watercolor artists who so generously post online. I was fascinated and soon hooked on this medium, and now typically paint 25-30 paintings a year. As a hobby artist, I am not trying to earn a living painting. I am just enjoying myself and want to be able to share my paintings with as many people as possible!
I use the finest quality supplies: 100% cotton paper, Arches or Fabriano Artistico 140lb, and tube paints by Daniel Smith, QoR, and M. Graham. I basically try to charge just enough to cover my costs and to purchase new supplies. I would much rather have my paintings affordable for more people to enjoy than to just store them in my basement…so tell your friends, buy them as gifts, and hang some original art on your own walls! Enjoy!
Shipping Options
Free local pickup in Colorado Springs at
East Library (5550 N Union Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918) or
21C Library (1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80920)
USPS shipping to 48 states: $10 ships one 8x10” or 11x14”.
Additional cost to be determined to ship multiple pieces or to ship outside of Continental US.
What are waxed watercolors?
Traditional watercolors are painted on cotton paper which is then matted and put in a frame behind glass. Because the paint is water soluble, the glass is necessary to protect the painting from damage from moisture. Around 2023 I learned of a technique where the watercolor painting is mounted to a wooden substrate and then coated with multiple layers of wax. The wax is then buffed to a nice sheen and protects the painting from moisture and dust. The painting can then be displayed in an open frame (similar to an acrylic or oil painting) with no need to hide it behind glass!
This has become my standard method of finishing my paintings. I either mount to a flat birch panel which is then framed in an open frame, or I mount to a deep cradled birch panel with 1.5” deep sides that I either stain or paint, thus eliminating the need for a frame.
I absolutely love the richness and sheen that the wax gives to a watercolor painting!
Contact Me
For more info on specific pieces view my watercolor gallery pages or contact me directly.
