Outdoor Watercolor & Sketch Class

Taking in the beauty of Mount Auburn Cemetery, we will take a short 5-minute walk from Story Chapel (across from the front entrance of the Cemetery) to a spot where you will choose your composition. You will learn how to lightly pencil in a “map” of your color-shape areas, how to organize elements in the landscape, how to find spatial planes, then how to slowly build up layers of translucent watercolors to create space and depth while imbuing your watercolor with a beautiful sense of light.

Students who don’t bring watercolors may still take part in this class by sketching or drawing the scenes around you with instruction. Clipboards with paper and pencils will be provided.

There will also be folding chairs to sit on at the class location.

Recommended: Bring a bottle of drinking water, and supplies from the list below.

Bathrooms and a water bottle filling station are located at the meeting location, near Story Chapel. Use these before we head out on our walk and to our class location.

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This class will be taught by Amanda Annis. Amanda loves teaching and taught for 20 years at the Boston Center for Adult Education, including classes in figurative clay sculpture, watercolor and drawing, and continued teaching in her own studio. To see her works, including watercolors, please visit Amanda’s website at www.amandaannis.com. Amanda holds a master’s degree from the Univ. of NC at Greensboro in sculpture, where she also studied bronze casting, and has studied in NYC and Paris, and she holds an undergraduate degree from Brandeis Univ. in Fine Arts (studio).

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Materials list:

Note: Amanda recommends professional grade watercolors for more vibrant colors. A set of 14 colors is plenty. Half pans are recommended and convenient or purchase individual tubes.

Watercolors:

Burnt Sienna

Warm Sepia

Ultramarine deep

Cobalt blue or Phthalo Blue

Lemon Yellow

Yellow deep or orange

Alizarine crimson or carmine

Vermilion or Alizarin Crimson

Red deep, cadmium free if possible (cadmium is toxic)

Payne's Grey

Phthalo Green Light

Viridian green

Forest Green

Purple (optional)

Brushes- large size 10 and small size 7 or 9, synthetic or sable.

Palette- bring an extra for added mixing area.

Watercolor paper pad- cold press (with texture).

Pencils- hard pencils (2H, 3H, 5H, or F)

Eraser- A white eraser (less abrasive)

Pencil sharpener

Paper towels

Bottle of water for mixing your colors, and plastic container- to enable you to replenish clean water when needed.

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Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.