How Watercolor Heals: An Interview with Ekaterina Zaznova on Fluidity, Wellness, and the Power of Art

Today, we explore the connection between creativity and well-being through the lens of watercolor painting. Our guest is not only an internationally acclaimed artist, but a visionary who has redefined what watercolor can be in both artistic and emotional terms.

Ekaterina Zaznova is a contemporary watercolorist, art educator, and founder of the Pro Akvarel platform. She had built a thriving online community of thousands of artists and gained recognition for her innovative technique involving alcohol in watercolor. Her work has been featured by major brands like Fabriano and Winsor & Newton, and she holds memberships in leading professional associations including AWS, NWS, and TWSA.

But beyond the accolades lies a deeper mission: to help people reconnect with themselves through the healing properties of watercolor.

In this conversation, Dr. Julianne Brooks speaks with Ekaterina about how the fluid nature of her art form mirrors the emotional landscape of the human soul—and how painting can become an unexpected path toward emotional restoration and inner peace.

Dr. Brooks: Ekaterina, your watercolor paintings are exhibited worldwide and praised for their unique technique. But today, we’d like to explore something deeper—the relationship between painting and health. In your view, how does watercolor affect a person’s well-being?

Ekaterina Zaznova: Watercolor is flow. And flow is life. It’s not just a medium or pigment—it’s a state of being. Working with watercolor demands acceptance, presence, patience. You can’t fully control it—the paint always behaves unpredictably. And it’s this unpredictability, this ability to move with it rather than against it, that brings us inner balance.

Dr. Brooks: That’s a beautiful insight. Would you say watercolor is a form of therapy?

Ekaterina: Absolutely. I’ve seen it happen time and time again—in myself and in others. There’s something deeply healing in simply watching color dissolve in water, finding its own form. It teaches trust, releases control, helps people process emotion. Some participants cry during their first session—not from pain, but from release.

Dr. Brooks: You’ve developed a technique involving alcohol and watercolor. How would you describe that from a psychological or sensory perspective?

Ekaterina: Yes, I experimented with alcohol of various concentrations—30%, 50%, 99%—combined with watercolor. The results were unexpected, almost alchemical. Psychologically, it’s an act of co-creation with the material world. You guide the brush, but you’re not the one who finishes the work. And that moment—of surrendering and accepting beauty as it emerges—is profoundly healing.

Dr. Brooks: Your online community now includes over 10,000 artists from around the globe. Do you believe that community itself can be a form of support for mental and emotional health?

Ekaterina: Without a doubt. Creative people often feel isolated. And spaces where you’re seen, accepted, supported—those are sources of resilience. In my projects like Pro Akvarel and About Watercolour, it’s the sense of connection that brings people back again and again. Health isn’t just physical or emotional—it’s also relational. And art creates relationships.

Dr. Brooks: Lastly, what would you say to someone who doesn’t think of themselves as a “creative person” but would like to try?

Ekaterina: I would say—forget the word “creative.” Just be human. We all feel, move, dream in color. Watercolor doesn’t ask for perfection. It asks for sincerity. Pick up a brush and let the water speak for you. Sometimes a single brushstroke is enough to begin healing.

Dr. Brooks: Thank you, Ekaterina. This has been deeply inspiring.

Ekaterina: Thank you. I truly believe that art—especially watercolor—brings us back to ourselves.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaznova_ekaterina?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Author: Dr. Julianne Brooks

Date: June 10, 2023