Art & the Artist

Beauty with an Edge: Stina Persson’s Watercolors

The Stockholm-based artist and fashion illustrator creates bright and bold works with free-flowing, dynamic lines that have become her trademark

Stina Persson’s work is defined by sweeping lines and, most importantly, vivid watercolor. Yet the Stockholm-based fashion illustrator came to the medium almost by accident. During her illustration degree course at New York’s Pratt Institute, “we didn’t have a single class in watercolor.

“But after school I made large-scale acrylic portraits. With acrylic you mix the paint with water, and all that dripping and bleeding kind of moved into my work.”

Stina with a portrait of model He Sui in watercolor and ink. Photograph: Isabelle McAllister. Banner image: A detail from Red Fur (2015), by Stina Persson for UK designer House of Holland.
Stina with a portrait of model He Sui in watercolor and ink. Photograph: Isabelle McAllister. Banner image: A detail from Red Fur (2015), by Stina Persson for UK designer House of Holland.

When a teacher introduced her to Dr. Ph. Martin’s watercolor dyes, she never looked back. As an artist, Persson relishes the liquid’s unpredictable nature.

Originally created for W magazine, Le Kid (2014) is also the name of Persson’s favorite Charlie Chaplin movie.
Originally created for W magazine, Le Kid (2014) is also the name of Persson’s favorite Charlie Chaplin movie.

“Watercolor is brutal because it just flows. You’ll have this great piece and all of a sudden you have these long yellow drips. Sometimes they ruin it. But I like that spontaneity. It’s almost like two people working on a piece; the paint does its thing and I try to do my thing.”

One of several album covers for Ku De Ta designed by Stina Persson.
One of several album covers for Ku De Ta designed by Stina Persson.

Its natural looseness and movement complement a style that is dynamic rather than romantic. “I work quickly, but I might do 50 pieces before I get the one that’s right. Watercolor gives that sketchy feeling, almost like someone is scribbling on the edge of the catwalk. But it’s important to me that my images have weight, too. I don’t want them to be fluffy.”

The paint does its thing and I try to do my thing

A sense of depth and an aversion to an overly cutesy aesthetic are key to the contemporary watercolorist, as is a desire to develop the form. Persson lists Austrian figurative innovator Egon Schiele and Brooklyn mixed-media artist Meri Bourgard as bigger influences than, say, Turner or Singer Sargent.

Tina featured in the artist’s 2010 solo show, "Perfectly Flawed," in New York. The show presented Persson’s works in their natural state, without any scanning or retouching.
Tina featured in the artist’s 2010 solo show, "Perfectly Flawed," in New York. The show presented Persson’s works in their natural state, without any scanning or retouching.

“Watercolor often gets a bad rap… But it’s much grittier today. We’ll introduce ink to get a different look—anything to stay away from kitsch.”