Nicolas Party's watercolors are an integral part of his artistic practice, showcasing his ability to blend vibrant color palettes with surreal compositions. His recent exhibition "Watercolor" at Karma in New York from November 2021 to January 2022 featured around fifty new watercolor paintings, highlighting his unique approach to this medium (Karma) (Juxtapoz Magazine - Home) .
Party's watercolors are known for their jewel-toned palettes and unorthodox compositions, transforming familiar subjects like sunsets and landscapes into vivid, dreamlike scenes. His technique involves using water to create natural movements in the paint, allowing the fluidity of the medium to contribute to the final composition. This approach results in artworks that appear alive and dynamic, with colors and forms that seem to shift and shimmer on the paper (Karma) (Juxtapoz Magazine - Home).
The themes in Party's watercolors often revolve around nature and its elemental forms. He describes trees as "nature's alphabets," reflecting his view of them as essential, flexible subjects that provide endless creative possibilities. His watercolors capture the ephemeral qualities of sunrises and sunsets, using these natural phenomena as metaphors for larger cycles of time and existence. These works emphasize the transient beauty of nature, blending the momentary with the cosmic (Hammer Museum Store) (Hypebeast).
Party's watercolor works have been featured in several prominent exhibitions, including the "Watercolor" exhibition at Karma. This show highlighted his mastery of the medium and his ability to evoke deep emotional responses through his innovative use of color and composition. The watercolors presented in this exhibition were praised for their ability to transform simple landscapes and natural elements into complex, immersive experiences (Karma) (Juxtapoz Magazine - Home) .
Party draws inspiration from art historical figures such as Milton Avery, Ferdinand Hodler, and Felix Vallotton, whose works influence his use of color and form. By reinterpreting these influences through his distinctive style, Party creates watercolors that are both familiar and uniquely his own. His works often blur the lines between reality and imagination, inviting viewers to engage with the hidden grammars of the unconscious and the spontaneous beauty of the natural world (Hammer Museum Store) (Hypebeast).
Nicolas Party's watercolors stand out for their vibrant, surreal quality and their ability to convey profound themes through simple yet dynamic compositions. His innovative use of the medium and his engagement with historical art forms make his watercolor works a significant and celebrated part of his broader artistic oeuvre (Karma) (Juxtapoz Magazine - Home) .