Born in a village in southern Poland in 1952, Zoladz studied at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts then moved to Sweden in 1978. He paints watercolor, mostly landscapes, rocks, water, and archipelago scenes around Stockholm. He works plein air (outdoors, on location) on Arches paper, 300g and 640g, using da Vinci brushes. He works on one painting at a time, and smaller ones are finished in a single session.
Stanislaw Zoladz at a glance
- Born: 1952, a village in southern Poland
- Based in: Sweden since 1978
- Training: Krakow Academy of Fine Arts
- Medium: Watercolor, painted outdoors (plein air) on Arches paper
- Known for: Landscapes, rocks, water and the Stockholm archipelago
- Signature works: Watercolors for the Nobel Prize diplomas in Chemistry 2019, Physics 2020, Economics 2021
- Awards: Second prize, Winsor and Newton “Our World in the Year 2000” (St James’s Palace, 2000); Excellence Prize, Shenzhen Watercolor Biennial; First Prize, Fabriano International Watercolour Biennial; Lifetime Award, “Pearl of Peace Through Watercolor”
- Roles: Founder and 2021 president of IMWA; member of KRO (Swedish Artists Society) and NAS (Nordic Society of Watercolourists)
Light is the main subject in his paintings, not the rocks or boats or snow. He told Art of Watercolour magazine he always tries to get control over the water, but that is rarely possible, so instead he works to keep his mistakes to a minimum. He paints every day and says sketching, learning color nuances, and daily practice are the three things that matter most.
He painted watercolours for Nobel Prize diplomas in Chemistry 2019, Physics 2020 and Economics 2021. He won second prize in the Winsor and Newton “Our World in the Year 2000” competition and received the award from Prince Charles at St James’s Palace in London in February 2000. He is a founder of IMWA, the International Masters of Watercolour Association, and served as its president in 2021. His other honors include an Excellence Prize at the Shenzhen Watercolor Biennial, a First Prize at the Fabriano International Watercolour Biennial, and a Lifetime Award from “Pearl of Peace Through Watercolor.” He is also a member of NAS, the Nordic Society of Watercolourists. Member of KRO, the Swedish Artists Society.
Clear water, rocks, pure stillness. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” — Lao Tzu Grey cat, window, watching outside. “I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream.” — William Shakespeare Rocks, shimmering water, open sky. “The sea is everything, it covers seven tenths of the globe.” — Jules Verne A scene from the Stockholm archipelago, painted by Stanislaw Zoladz. Rocks and water, a subject Zoladz returns to again and again in his watercolors. A boat resting on calm water, painted by Stanislaw Zoladz. One of the red cottages that dot the Swedish coast, painted by Zoladz. Winter light on snow, painted by Stanislaw Zoladz, who works outdoors in every season. Evening light over the archipelago, painted by Stanislaw Zoladz. Calm water and open sky, painted in Zoladz’s loose, light-focused style. A coastal landscape painted on location by Stanislaw Zoladz. Rocks along the shoreline, a favorite subject of Zoladz’s plein air watercolors. A quiet bay near Stockholm, painted by Stanislaw Zoladz. Zoladz painted this scene outdoors, working directly from what he saw. A scene from the Stockholm archipelago, painted by Stanislaw Zoladz. Rocks and water, a subject Zoladz returns to again and again in his watercolors. A boat resting on calm water, painted by Stanislaw Zoladz.
