Guardians of light, 2025

Ekaterina Zaznova  

Ekaterina Zaznova was born on April 3, 1990, in Moscow, Russia, and currently lives and works in New Jersey, USA. She is a watercolor artist and the creator of the unique “Watercolor & Alcohol” technique, registered with the US Copyright Office, as well as an online course for artists on international platforms.

Ekaterina has organized over 100 watercolor creative projects, involving more than 1,000 participants, and curates the international projects Pro Akvarel and About Watercolour, which connect more than 10,000 artists worldwide with a monthly reach of 180,000+. She is a member of the American Watercolor Society (AWS), National Watercolor Society (NWS), Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA), the Union of Russian Watercolorists, and the Eurasian Artists’ Union.

Her works have been featured in the Affordable Art Fair NYC catalog and the exhibition of the Union of Russian Watercolorists, where she was selected among 1,500 submissions. Ekaterina’s practice focuses on experimenting with alcohol and watercolor to create unique textures and effects. Her series, including “Flower Talismans”, “Textures”, and “Marine Motifs”, explore human inner processes, overcoming fears, and life cycles, combining symbolism, philosophy, and experimental artistic language.

For Zaznova, watercolor is a way to reveal the hidden dialogue between movement and stillness. She approaches each sheet of paper as a living surface, letting water, pigment, and alcohol interact freely to form patterns that echo the rhythms of nature and the quiet transformations of the human spirit. By allowing chance to guide the flow while maintaining a mindful presence, she creates works that invite viewers to pause, reflect, and sense the delicate balance between control and spontaneity.

Through this blend of technical innovation and philosophical inquiry, Ekaterina Zaznova offers a contemporary vision of watercolor as both a meditative practice and a field of limitless creative possibility.