The Annecy Style - Sketch with Color
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Mano et Arte Journal
The Annecy style is my preferred way of depicting cities and landscapes: with a photographically chosen crop, loose drawing, transparent watercolor glazes, and deliberate white space.
The style was named after my motif of the French city of Annecy. It was there that it became particularly clear to me how a reduced, sketchy representation can be combined with atmosphere and recognizability.
The photographer's eye
Before I draw or paint a motif, I consider the viewpoint and the crop. My vision is strongly influenced by photography.
If an important building, a bridge, or a rock appears too small in the image, the solution doesn't always have to be to zoom in. Often, it's more convincing to change the imagined location and move closer to the motif.
Fewer details, more impact
The foundation is a fine, loose drawing. Buildings, boats, rocks, and landscapes are given their form without every line being completely closed or every single part being elaborated.
Not every window, every roof edge, and every outbuilding needs to be visible. Often, a motif gains clarity when fewer elements compete with each other.
The drawing gives the image support. At the same time, it gives the colors enough freedom to appear soft, transparent, and lively.
Transparent colors and white space
The watercolor paints are mainly built up in thin glazes. Earlier layers of color and the light paper remain visible. This creates light, depth, and a natural lightness.
Colors are allowed to blend, overlap, or remain only hinted at. The white of the paper is also deliberately part of the composition. It creates tranquility and prevents architecture and landscape from appearing too dense or complicated.
Not every motif is created in the same style
In addition to the Annecy style, I also use other visual languages. Some motifs can be more detailed, stronger, or more realistic. A summer season can be emphasized more strongly through more vibrant colors.
Client wishes can also influence which style is best suited for a motif. This diversity is part of my work and allows for different forms of expression.
The Annecy style nevertheless remains my personal favorite. I appreciate its simplicity, its lightness, and the ability to make a place visible with a few lines and transparent colors.
