BIOGRAPHYGail Speckmann is an international award-winning watercolor artist, instructor, and judge. Her book Wet-into-Wet Watercolor" is considered one of most definitive instructions of this challenging technique. Her classes have been conducted throughout North America and several European countries. Gail’s travel experiences have had a broadening influence on her painting. Her subject matter includes landscapes, floral, still life and abstracts. She is most recognized for her wet-into-wet technique, strong color, and composition.She has her signature membership in Watercolor West, a national transparent watercolor society, and has judged notable state and regional shows. Gail is an active poet whose work has been published in written form and performed on stage. It has also been the lyrical basis for musical performance.GOALSIn my work I am particularly interested in the spiritual energy that a subject expresses. This is revealed through color, value, mood, and rhythm. These elements are inherent in the subject, but also arise from my personal response to it. Subjects may range from an expression of exuberant life as in a garden, spare remains of life as in the form of washed up and broken seashells, or more abstractly as an emotion or concept. The patterns are there and simply need to be revealed and enhanced. My painting process is wet-into-wet watercolor, which may include passages in acrylic, ink, and oil or chalk pastels. I am particularly interested in the way the wet paint disperses on the wet paper surface. It has a natural beauty which I seek to both work with and direct. It is a meditative and living conversation. As a writer, I value all aspects of the process. Much of my writing comes initially as inspiration in free-flowing, visionary thoughts. I also value honing and fine-tuning and have utilized this most notably in my own book and as co-editor of the internationally recognized book "Fearless Women Fearless Wisdom".Specialties: Painting (included commissioned work), writing (instructional, poetry, memoir, and editing), painting demonstrations and public speaking, teaching, leading tours as a travel guide (adding value by focusing on the visual arts, literature, and music of each foreign country), judging art shows and poetry competitions, past program chairperson of two large watercolor societies. Long-term and abiding interest in and student of nature (trees, flowers, animals), and visionary spirituality.