Watercolor: Beginners and Beyond

Beginning to intermediate skill levels and beyond.

Get started or improve with solid basic skills for creating realistic watercolors that glow and pop. Often called the most difficult of mediums, there are plenty of tricks and tips in watercolor to help correct mistakes and re-work an area that is less than the desired result. Class format is a step-by-step process that incorporates demonstrations of one section of the painting at a time throughout the class time. Photos are provided and every student will be painting the same painting. You may also work from your own photos if you prefer. Each student will receive one-on-one guidance along the way. Prices listed are PER CLASS. Supplies not included, but they may be purchased for $15 at class by contacting the instructor.

Students should bring:

Watercolor Paper in either 140# or 300# cold press sheets, or blocks (I recommend Arches brand). We will start with one sheet of 22" x 30," which can be cut into whatever size you want. Do not buy cheap pads of paper. The savings is not worth it. Inexpensive watercolor pads are useful for testing color before applying.

• Brushes: Round soft hair either sable or synthetic, in sizes #6 #10 #14. You may bring extra brush sizes if desired. Bring some inexpensive brushes of various size for mixing, frisketing, etc.

• Palette :Divided plastic palate. A paper plate with divided partitions works fine.

• Containers: A few small Tupperware-type containers to mix larger batches of color

• Board to attach paper in size16” x 24” called "incredible art board" or gatorboard (larger if you’ll be using a full sheet). This is NOT the same as foam core. Other options: the corrugated plastic yard signs available at a hardware store are lightweight and work well in a pinch, also. If you use a watercolor paper block, you do not need a board.

• Miscellaneous: Water jars or paper cups, paper towels (Viva are good), roll of masking tape (use gummed tape that you moisten with water if you're soaking and stretching your paper), pencils, kneaded eraser, brush holder, spray bottle for water.

• Masking Fluid (liquid frisket) . Must use throw-away brushes for this.

• Paint: There are many good brands. Do not buy student grade. Winsor & Newton, Holbein, Da Vinci, QoR, MaimeriBlu, Schmincke, Daniel Smith. Minimum Colors: Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Alizarin Crimson, Windsor or Cadmium Red, Opera, Cobalt Blue, Cobalt Turquoise, Sap Green, Payne’s Grey. Additional optional colors: Lemon Yellow, Cerulean Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Lavender, Hooker’s Green, Olive Green, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Raw Umber, Sepia, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black, (You will learn to mix a black rather than use tube black).