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In 1954, Adin moved from Ohio to the Phoenix
area and began studies at the Kachina School
of Art under the direction of Jay Datus and other
noble faculty artists. After a move with his family
to Southeastern Arizona in 1972, he furthered his
art education by attending Eastern Arizona
College at Thacher. It was his enrollment at
E.A.C. that encouraged him to take his talented
drawing and watercolor techniques seriously.
He now works exclusively in the medium of
watercolor. Unique handling of space and a
variety of textures compose each painting of
Adin's. His work is a reflection of the man and his
everyday view of life. His watercolors depict
soft hues in a tranquil form of beauty, which is
always pleasing. His style also displays a feeling
of mystical depth and warmth found both in his
Native American images and his textured
landscapes. "I'm happy to explain my methods
and techniques; I believe that having secrets
breeds stagnation. Each painting is a new
learning experience, and has, I hope,
expressed my enthusiasm for the medium. It is a
privilege to apply paint to paper and achieve
results that people accept and enjoy," says
Shade. Adin Shade is a member of the
Southwestern Watercolor Society, the Arizona
Artists Guild, and is an associate member of the
National Watercolor Society and a signature
member of the Knickerbocker Association. His
work appears in galleries throughout
the Southwest.
Adin uses a hot-pressed watercolor paper that
is a smooth paper with an extremely tight finish.
Adin does not predraw or sketch his work;
instead he begins a painting by spraying the
central area of the paper with water. The
droplets of water are effected by the distance
in which they are sprayed. The weather plays
a great part in achieving the final result due
to humidity or dryness in the air. The weather
causes the water and the pigment
combination to evaporate at a different rate;
thus creating a texture that is always unique.
It is never necessary to use salt, as a resist, as
most watercolorists find necessary. Adin chooses
three to five complementary colors, mixes very
concentrated solutions of these, and begins
applying them to the dampened paper one
color at a time, dripping color onto the surface
of the paper from a large brush. As the
concentrated color comes into contact with
the large water droplets, the color begins to
dilute and disperse. If any areas remain
uncolored, Adin can overspray or touch in with
a wet brush. Once he has the background
laid in, he allows everything to dry. He may
study the paper for several days, looking at it
periodically until he gets a sense of what lies
within. At the appropriate moment a decision
is reached and Adin picks up his brush. He now
has the image that will become his painting.
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