Alex Hillkurtz

I am a watercolor artist and urban sketcher currently living in Paris. I’ve sketched and drawn all my life, and when I moved to Paris five years ago I fell in love with the way light glances off the amazing architecture. I find watercolor to be the perfect medium for capturing the effects of light and shadow, and the elusive nature of sunlight on buildings.

I was born in England and grew up in California where for 20 years I have worked as a storyboard artist and illustrator for feature films, television, and commercials. Because of this background, I use the language of cinema to inform my paintings. I think in story scenes, camera angles, and cinematic characters. Paintings tell stories, and I aim to create images that convey the mood and character of a place, just as film scenes do. For me, sketching and plein air painting is a form of meditation, and the best way I’ve found to discover the hidden corners of the city and uncover its stories.

My works have been exhibited in solo and group shows in Europe, the United States, and Russia. I conduct regular workshops and masterclasses in watercolor painting and sketching in Europe and the U.S., teaching students of all levels and backgrounds how to infuse their paintings with new life. I’m also very active on social media and proud to be part of this global community of creatives.

The artist does not draw what he sees,
but what he must make others see

- Degas