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10 brilliant cartoons to brighten your day and make you feel better when things are dark

3 min read

Good Stuff
Source: Instagram/swatercolour

One watercolour artist uploads his work to social media to help others keep their chin up and make it through hard times.

The internet’s favourite self-deprecating watercolourist

Hector Richard Janse van Rensburg, better known by his pseudonym Shitty Watercolour, is a British painter and cartoonist who started posting watercolour paintings on the social media website Reddit in February 2012, and later expanded to publishing his work on his own website, on Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter .

Already a Reddit user, he realised that submissions, comments, and usernames on the website provided him with ample illustration opportunities.
1. Boredom and depression led Janse Van Rensburg to revisit an old watercolour set and seek subjects to paint. Already a Reddit user, he realised that submissions, comments, and usernames on the website provided him with ample illustration opportunities. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
Encouraged by the response from Reddit users however, among whom he gathered a devoted following, his painting skills improved greatly.
2. At first the quality of his paintings was, in his own opinion, accurately described by his Reddit username Shitty_Watercolour. Encouraged by the response from Reddit users however, among whom he gathered a devoted following, his painting skills improved greatly. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
The young painter considers this a compliment, and while denying that he is Quentin Blake, acknowledges that he is greatly inspired by him.
3. Many people have mistaken the artist for Sir Quentin Blake, best known for illustrating children’s books written by Roald Dahl. The young painter considers this a compliment, and while denying that he is Quentin Blake, acknowledges that he is greatly inspired by him. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
, illustrating various comments on the subreddit /r/AskReddit, and illustrating usernames of redditors.
4. Shitty_Watercolour became popular on reddit by posting his interpretations of pictures posted by “Redditors” (Reddit users) , illustrating various comments on the subreddit /r/AskReddit, and illustrating usernames of redditors. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
He has painted his own interpretations of classic artworks by painters such as Edward Hopper and Leonardo da Vinci.
5. He often welcomes celebrities during their reddit AMAs (“Ask Me Anything”) by posting a painting of them. He has painted his own interpretations of classic artworks by painters such as Edward Hopper and Leonardo da Vinci. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
6. Since early 2013, the artist has been going through a “sloth period”, during which he has been painting sloths based on famous pieces of art. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
Redditors donated a minimum of $10 to have a photo of their choice painted in a 5 cm by 5 cm square.
7. In October 2012, the artist streamed live a 12-hour painting session on YouTube to raise money for charity: water, a non-profit organisation which aims to provide drinking water in developing countries. Redditors donated a minimum of $10 to have a photo of their choice painted in a 5 cm by 5 cm square. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
8. In July 2012, he painted a watercolour painting to help a redditor propose to his girlfriend, and more paintings to celebrate their engagement. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
9. Shitty_Watercolour is consistently listed as one of the most popular and influential Redditors. Source: Instagram/swatercolour
This portrait of Obama was hung in the campaign headquarters. His impressions of classic artworks and his paintings of sloths have also received considerable attention in the media.
10. The painter’s portrait of President Barack Obama during his August 2012 Reddit AMA was published on the President’s official Tumblr and on various news websites, including CNN. This portrait of Obama was hung in the campaign headquarters. His impressions of classic artworks and his paintings of sloths have also received considerable attention in the media. Source: Instagram/swatercolour

Shitty watercolour: The internet’s favourite self-deprecating watercolourist

Hector Richard Janse van Rensburg, better known by his pseudonym Shitty Watercolour, is a British painter and cartoonist who started posting watercolour paintings on the social media website Reddit in February 2012, and later expanded to publishing his work on his own Website | Reddit | Facebook | Instagram and Twitter .

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