A lifelong fly fisherman and outdoorsman, it took East Brainerd painter Effton Mitchell a long time to realize his best subject matter had been staring him in the face for years.
East Brainerd watercolor painter Effton Mitchell displays one of his recent award-winning paintings. A lifelong lover of fly fishing, sailing and the great outdoors, most of Mitchell’s paintings are inspired by nature. He said 90 percent of his work is of landscapes.“When I was five years old my dad had me out and about in the coldest winter months during duck hunting season watching the sunrise from the duck blind,” he said. “I had this passion but it never occurred to me that this is my life and my subject matter.”
Working primarily in watercolors, the artist said 90 percent of his work is of landscapes that he either encounters while pursuing outdoor passions or that he imagines.
“Sometimes I top a ridge or turn a corner in a creek and see a scene that’s just made to be put on paper or canvas,” he said.
According to Mitchell, the ability and potential to create something out of nothing has drawn him to art and painting since he was in grade school.
“I love the painting process – the whole thing, from finding a scene to photographing it to sketching,” he said. “And the actual putting paint on paper is that epic moment.”
A recent Chattanooga transplant and former president of the Watercolor Art Society of Houston, Mitchell said now that he’s retired he’s dedicating more time than ever to painting.
“I’m treating it like my job,” he said. “Every day all day since the beginning of winter I’ve been in the studio.”
As Mitchell dedicates more time to painting he said he is already experimenting with new colors on his palette and hopes to pick up speed with his painting. He also hopes to begin using oil paint in the future with some of his work.
“[Oil paint] will never take over watercolor, but I have certain paintings that might have benefited with the depth you can achieve with oil,” he said.
In addition to giving him more time to paint, retirement has also given Mitchell an opportunity to begin teaching art classes. He is currently teaching an Introduction to Watercolor class at Art Creations, which he hopes to continue after this session.
Continuing to teach and produce quality art is something Mitchell said he hopes to do for a long time.
“I would like to take my art as far as I can,” he said. “As long as I’m growing and advancing, I’ll stay at it.”
As long as his wife Janan is there to support him, Mitchell said he is sure he will be able to keep going. All of his paintings are dedicated to her with all of his heart, he said.
“When I’m not satisfied with a painting, she’s there to point out reasons why I should be,” said Mitchell. “She’s my No. 1 boss, fan and supporter.”
For more information or to view Mitchell’s work, visit www.efftonmitchell.com.