Why I Use American Journey Watercolors
By Vladislav Yeliseyev
After over 50 years of working in watercolor, I’ve tried just about every paint brand on the market. My journey started with scarce materials in the Soviet Union and continued through years of scraping by in New York City, testing and experimenting with whatever I could afford. When I finally had access to professional-grade materials, I realized just how much of a difference quality paint can make.
Watercolor is known as one of the most unforgiving mediums. Many people assume that the difficulty lies in the inability to correct mistakes. While that’s partly true, for me the bigger challenge has always been maintaining vibrancy and transparency after the paint dries. Colors tend to dull, tonal values shift, and multiple washes can kill the freshness of a painting.
That’s why discovering American Journey watercolors was a game changer. From the first time I used them, I noticed something different: the colors stayed vibrant—even after drying—and retained a sense of clarity and depth, even in the darkest passages. My paintings looked fresher, bolder, and more transparent. And others noticed the difference too.
Another thing I appreciate is their no-nonsense color lineup. Many brands today offer hundreds of trendy shades, but as someone trained in traditional fine art, I prefer to mix my own. American Journey gives me a solid core palette with the quality pigments I need—without overwhelming me with unnecessary options.
Consistency matters a lot to a professional painter, and American Journey delivers. In all my years using them, I’ve never had a tube behave differently or change in color properties from batch to batch. That reliability means I can focus on painting—not second-guessing my materials.
They also offer one of the largest tube sizes available, which is incredibly convenient in the studio, along with smaller tubes perfect for plein air work. And for professional-grade paint, the price is more than fair—it’s one of the best values out there.
For me, American Journey watercolors strike the perfect balance: bold, dependable, and thoughtfully made. After decades of searching, I can finally say I’ve found the paint I plan to stick with.
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Vlad's American Journey Color Palette consists of: Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Teal, Royal Amethyst, Sepia, Transparent Oxide Brown, Yeliseyev Indigo Dark, Yellow Ochre, and Yellow Ochre Gold.
About Vlad:
Vladislav Yeliseyev AIS, NWS
Painting the Light
“Vlad Yeliseyev is no stranger to beautiful scenery. In fact, he’s traveled around the world to paint interesting cityscapes and landscapes. But unlike many artists who are drawn to a postcard-perfect site, Yeliseyev usually can be found around the back of a building, along the street or in an alleyway, capturing commonplace scenes," wrote BJ Foreman in her article "Everyday Poetry" in the Watercolor Artist Magazine (Feb.2016).
Vladislav Yeliseyev is a renowned watercolor and plein air artist known for his ability to capture everyday scenes with a unique perspective. Originally from Russia, he brought his Classical Art education and a Master's Degree in Architecture when he immigrated to the United States in the 1980s.
For over 30 years, Vladislav has lived and worked in the United States, amassing a dedicated following of art enthusiasts. His paintings can be found in personal and commercial collections worldwide.
His artwork is praised for its mastery of light and color, showcased through bold brushstrokes, skillful color schemes, and clear calligraphy. With a limited palette and minimal brushstrokes Vlad creates paintings that evoke a sense of the depicted objects rather than their intricate details. He often employs warm colors to achieve richness while maintaining the transparency of watercolor. Vlad's intention is not to simply depict the object itself but to capture the light, leaving room for interpretation and evoking a poetic response from the viewer.
Vladislav's artistic goal is to express as much as possible with minimal brushwork, allowing the viewer to experience the essence of the scene.
After a successful career as an architectural illustrator, in addition to his artistic pursuits Vladislav has established himself as a sought-after speaker, demonstrator, and educator in the watercolor and plein air communities. He has been invited to watercolor and plein air conventions across the United States and served as a jury member and judge for national and regional competitions. Vladislav conducts virtual workshops, plein air and studio workshops as well as hosts art holidays in Europe.
His participation in highly regarded invitational paint-outs and competitions has earned him numerous prestigious awards and accolades. To share his knowledge and technique with aspiring artists, Vladislav has released educational video master classes on DVD and streaming platforms (Vimeo, YouTube). He is an exhibiting member of many art societies nationwide and holds Signature membership in esteemed organizations such as American Impressionist Society and the National Watercolor Society.
His work has been featured in renowned publications, including Watercolor Artist magazine (2016, USA), PleinAir Magazine (2017, USA), and Art of Watercolour (2018, France) and others.
Welcome to Cheap Joe's Sketchbook, a place where artists can gain creative tips and ideas for their next art project. This art blog will inspire you to try new mediums across the art spectrum while gathering knowledge on different painting techniques.
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Welcome to Cheap Joe's Sketchbook, a place where artists can gain creative tips and ideas for their next art project. This art blog will inspire you to try new mediums across the art spectrum while gathering knowledge on different painting techniques.