Description: This class is designed for beginning and intermediate watercolorists. During the first session, there will be a brief history of watercolor, and we will study and practice the foundations of watercolor. The next three sessions will be devoted to learning techniques for painting skies, water, buildings, mountains, and figures and to painting landscapes. Materials are provided, but students are welcome to bring their own.

Schedule:

October 31st: Foundational – A brief history of watercolor and description of watercolor materials. Students will create a color wheel, mix colors, complete a value study with a single pigment, practice brush control, and explore water-to-paint ratios.

November 7th: Techniques – After a demonstration, students will warm up by creating a landscape using a plastic card to apply paint. Students will learn to paint the elements of a landscape using demonstrated techniques of 3 different washes, painting around whites, using liquid mask, spattering, sponging, using salt and plastic wrap, and removing paint by blotting and with a brush.

November 14th: Painting a Landscape – Working from a photo and teacher directions, students will complete a landscape in steps: 

 1) Drawing a thumbnail sketch to indicate dark and light values in the composition 

 2) Drawing the subject lightly on watercolor paper 

 3) Painting beginning washes, leaving whites and adding texture with salt 

 4) Continue building layers from light to dark to complete the landscape.

November 21st: Painting a Landscape II – Students bring or choose a photo reference and paint a landscape of their choice.

Cost: $100 members / $125 non-members