Tomas Bernatonis is an artist profoundly moved by the ever-changing and unpredictable qualities of watercolours. He explains that working with this medium imparts important lessons in letting go of control and practicing patience, as he watches the colours move, blend, and transform across the canvas. Watercolours, for Tomas, become a way to concentrate on the vital details that infuse his paintings with life.
Each new painting presents Tomas with a chance to tell a story. He is especially fascinated by the interpretations viewers bring to his art, which sometimes reveal stories and meanings quite different from what he originally intended. This shared narrative between creator and audience enriches and deepens every piece he produces.
Tomas’s creative process is energized by his own memories and vivid imagination. He finds inspiration in the sensation of dancing, dreams about a home painted in brilliant colours, and the haunting memory of a girl’s unforgettable glance. These personal fragments are woven into his work, offering viewers insight into the emotions and thoughts that guide his artistic style.
Through his paintings, Tomas opens an invitation for others to engage, contemplate, and discover their own stories within his gentle watercolours. His artworks become not only a reflection of his own experiences but also a space for the narratives others create when they encounter his pieces.
About this artwork+
In the painting, a joyful family moment unfolds under an open sky, with verdant trees lining the background. A basketball hoop stands prominently in the center, under which a young child in blue, aided by an adult in a yellow jacket, is making a basketball shot. Another younger child, tottering on chubby legs, reaches out, perhaps in encouragement or in a bid to join the game, held back slightly by a woman who stands watching the scene. She wears a calm blue jacket and has her hair pulled back, observing the family play, her posture relaxed but attentive. The tone of the piece is vibrant and warm, capturing a snapshot of familial support, childhood adventure, and a clear, peaceful day.
