EP #04: Laurin McCracken – Precision in Every Drop

Welcome to Wet on Wet, the podcast where we explore inspiring artist journeys and share valuable insights to fuel your creative path. In this episode, join host Sunil Kalbandi as he interviews hyper-realistic watercolor master Laurin McCracken, a former architect turned full-time still life painter. From his roots in Mississippi to being one of the most exhibited American watercolorists worldwide, Laurin brings a unique perspective on drawing, discipline, and the business of art. Discover how he transitioned from architectural design to luminous paintings of glass, silver, and magnolias—and why observation, patience, and paper quality matter more than most artists think. Learn how Laurin built his brand, developed his signature paint color (McCracken Black), and why great artists should also learn to sell. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Laurin McCracken’s Website – http://www.lauringallery.com Daniel Smith Artist Page – https://danielsmith.com/laurin-mccracken McCracken Black (Daniel Smith) – https://danielsmith.com/?s=McCracken+... Instagram –   / laurinmccracken   Facebook –   / laurin.mccracken   LinkedIn –   / laurin-mccracken-9a387ab   Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurin_... PRODUCTS / BRANDS / SERVICES Brushes Escoda Versatil – https://www.escoda.com/en/versatil-se... Escoda Reserva Kolinsky – https://www.escoda.com/en/optimo-series/ Paints Daniel Smith – https://danielsmith.com M. Graham – https://mgraham.com Winsor & Newton – https://www.winsornewton.com Paper Fabriano Artistico 300lb Soft Press – https://www.fabriano.com/en/brand/art... Buy at Blick – https://www.dickblick.com/products/fa... Masking & Tape Daniel Smith Masking Fluid – https://danielsmith.com/?s=masking+fluid Nichiban Tape (Japan) – https://www.nichiban.com/english/prod... Gear Canon 5D + 100mm Macro Lens – https://www.canon-europe.com/lenses/e... Nikon Coolpix Zoom – https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-pro... American Frame (prints/framing) – https://www.americanframe.com QUOTES FROM LAURIN MCCRACKEN 🖌️ “So all of my professional career, I wanted to know how to watercolor because I always said that architects should be watercolorists. So at age 60, I took a watercolor class and found out that I could do it… and it has been a great second career for me.” 🌍 “The watercolor world… is the friendliest, nicest, most sharing group of people in the world.” 🗣️ “You stop any watercolorist and ask, ‘I really admire your backgrounds,’ and they’ll stop and say, ‘Let me show you how.’” 🎨 “There’s a misconception that watercolor is so difficult. But if you get some instruction, you’ll know how to do it.” 🧠 (Quoting his nephew, a neurosurgeon): “No, Uncle Loren, it’s not difficult… It’s because I know what I’m doing.” ✏️ “If you can’t draw, you can’t paint.” 🎯 “The more you take risks and the more you paint, the more you’ll learn. Paint a thousand paintings—and then paint a real painting.” 🔍 “The closer you get, the more detail you get to see and enjoy. And that’s the joy of painting the way I do it.” 💡 “My view is that if I’m gonna take the time to do anything, I’m gonna take the time to do it well.” 🖌️ “Buy better quality products. Don’t buy a $2 brush if you really want to paint a $1,000 painting.” 📦 “Paper, pigment, and brush—they’re all equal. You can’t have a great brush and great paint and try to paint on terrible paper.” INSTITUTIONS/LOCATIONS Rice University – https://www.rice.edu Princeton University – https://www.princeton.edu Torpedo Factory Art Center – https://torpedofactory.org American Watercolor Society – https://americanwatercolorsociety.org National Watercolor Society – https://www.nationalwatercolorsociety... Transparent Watercolor Society – https://transparentwatercolorsocietyo... Watercolor USA Honor Society – https://www.sgfmuseum.org Fabriano in Acquarello – https://www.inartefabriano.it TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Meet Laurin McCracken 02:00 - Why Watercolor after Architecture 06:00 - Drawing is Everything 10:45 - First Watercolor Lessons 15:00 - From Flowers to Glassware 21:00 - Composition Secrets 27:00 - Painting vs. Photographing 33:00 - What Makes Paper Great 39:00 - Commission Strategy 44:30 - How to Sell High-End Art 52:00 - The Gallery Game 58:00 - Advice to New Artists 01:05:00 - The Power of Positioning PEOPLE Dean Mitchell – https://deanmitchellstudio.com Angus McEwan – https://www.angusmcewan.com Alvaro Castagnet – https://alvarocastagnet.net Carolyn Brady – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn... Joseph Raffael – https://josephraffael.com watercolor art, watercolor podcast, watercolor realism, still life watercolor, hyper-realistic watercolor, drawing for painters #LaurinMcCracken #WatercolorPodcast #WatercolorArtist