Tim Saternow is an American watercolor painter known for capturing quiet, forgotten corners of the urban world. His subjects range from the old High Line trestle in New York to empty homesteads in Joshua Tree and the weathered houses of Provincetown. He paints these places with thick watercolor layers, deep shadows and a calm, cinematic mood.
“I paint a moment with light and shadow, and a calmness begins.”
Saternow’s newest series, House Portrait/City Portrait, focuses on homes in Greenwich Village and Provincetown. He believes these old buildings hold long stories, shaped by families and time. Even when the scene feels a bit unsertain, he lets the light guide the painting.
Trained as a set and lighting designer, he uses those sensibilities to build strong architectural compositions. His watercolors play with perspective, surface marks, blooms, spatters and the tension between depth and flatness. Small misstakes in the wash add honesty and texture.
Saternow is especially sensitive to fall and winter light, using long shadows and cool tones to shape mood. His paintings appear in private and public collections, and he was awarded the 2019 Fellowship with The Clark Hulings Fund, later becoming a 2020 Executive Fellow.
He continues to explore the emotional power of architecture, letting each building speak through light, silence and memory.
- American watercolor artist focused on forgotten urban edges and quiet architectural moods.
- Uses thick watercolor, deep shadows and design sensibility from theater and film.
- Known for painting old homes and city structures that hold long family histories.
Soft shadows drift across old walls,
holding stories in quiet air.
A single house becomes a voice,
whispering things we almost hear.
