50 Realistic Watercolor Paintings

Here are fifty original watercolor paintings by Los Angeles artist Paul Pitsker. Scroll down to see all. (More...)

Blinds, 2013 , 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Nesting, 2014 , 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Dreaming, 2014 , 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Buzz, 2013 , 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Jasmine, 2014 , 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Sparky, 2012 , 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

After, 2007, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Dryer, 2007, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor landscape

Chill, 2008, 25 x 17", watercolor

Realistic watercolor landscape, contemporary realism, watercolor landscape

Flutes, 2009, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor still life, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Left shot, 2010, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Libation, 2011, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Milk, 2011, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Clear, 2009, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Miss, 2007, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Mixer, 2008, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Muffled, 2011, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Inky, 2011, 20 x 15", watecolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Later, 24 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Perhaps never, 2011, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Pinch, 2007, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Erasing, 2008, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Pointed, 2010, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism, watercolor landscape

Pressing, 2007, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Proof, 2009, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Prop, 2008, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Ride, 2006, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Secret, 2012, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Seep, 2008, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Shine, 2011, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Side, 2006, 9 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Small pigeon holes, 2009, 8 x 6", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Small window, 2010, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Spotted, 2009, 20 x 15", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism, watercolor landscape

Stems, 2009, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Still, 2011, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Stinger, 2006, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Stuck, 2005, 25 x 17", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Thick, 2009, 8 x 6", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Grip, 2007, 17.5 x 11.75", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Through, 2007, 7 x 10", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Thanks, 2012, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Tilt, 2010, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Toast, 2006, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Twist, 2007, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Wasted, 2006, 25 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Alight, 2012, 8 x 6", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Finger, 2012, 8 x 6", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Grounder, 2006, 24 x 18", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

Wine glass, 2009, 10 x 7", watercolor

Realistic watercolor, contemporary realism and watercolor still life

These watercolors were all painted on Arches hot press paper using a minimal palette of staining colors to produce translucent washes of intense color, often set against a dense opaque background of lunar black (iron oxide pigment) for maximum contrast.

Watercolor has a reputation as a medium given to splashy spontaneity, yet these paintings are carefully planned and tightly rendered in intricate detail, with photographic blurring and vignetting simulated for a shallow-focus "bug's eye view" effect. Yet the unpredictable and unforgiving nature of the medium still manages to prevent the result from being entirely photo-realistic. Each painting is the record of a performance, with subtle textures, paint blooms and stain borders -- telltale watercolor "accidents" on a small scale -- that reveal the story of a laborious and personal artistic process.