Sarah Florer

About Me

I'm Sarah Florer, a watercolor artist in Haymarket, Virginia. I'm focused on a loose style of watercolor painting using different paints including traditional Western style watercolor, Japanese gansai watercolor, and even coffee. In addition to watercolor, I am interested in sumi-e painting and both Western calligraphy and shodo (Japanese calligraphy).

I love watercolor because it's fluid and has a mind of its own. Watercolor does its own thing and is unpredictable. It is also transparent, so it is not always possible to cover up mistakes. With watercolor, I have to learn to accept that much is out of my control and accept my mistakes. Watercolor works when you let go of always being in control and go with the flow. At the same time, watercolor painting (as well as sumi-e and shodo) requires mastery and precision with the brush, which are areas where I can exert control. Watercolor painting helps me with the Stoic concept of Dichotomy of Control by teaching me to focus on what is in my control while learning how to work with what is outside of my control.