Let's get comfortable with our Watercolours
During this 6-week class we will cover a wide variety of watercolour techniques and really lean into playing and experimenting. To spend time 'learning by doing' is where discovery and confidence lives. A perfect opportunity for beginners to explore in a safe, fun and non-judgemental space and for experienced artists to step outside any creative boxes they have found themselves in.
In this class you will explore a variety of techniques and play with a bunch of tools. You'll use plastic wrap and salt to create textured backgrounds. Also, we will explore how to use different tools including, watercolour pencil crayons, different brushes, and one of my favourites: white gouache. We will practice colour mixing while making super fun chickens, and practice outlining while making gorgeous flowers. Many of the little paintings can be made in to cards.
In this class we will be spending time each week on painting one big picture. At the end of each class we will spend a few minutes adding what we learned to a painting. This painting is completely spontaneous, with no end point in mind when we start, and letting it evolve over the weeks. It is a great exercise in letting go of control, and not getting to attached to outcome, as well as a record of what we learn each week.
Watercolour is a medium that has so many little things about it that if you learn to use them you can create so many special effects.
If you've done watercolour classes with me before, some of the materials will be repeated, but it is a wonderful chance for you to expand on techniques you've tried.
Schedule:
Wednesday evenings 7:30-9:30
September 24-October 29
$180
Week one:
Backgrounds
For the first week we will be playing with salt, and plastic wrap to create textures, we will experiment with wet on wet and wet on dry. The first week we'll be exploring and creating backgrounds and landscapes and working on the 'rule of thirds.' Do you want a big sky, or a big foreground? You'll find out. Learning about perspective and creating depth.
Week two:
Flowers.
Using what we learned in week one, during week two we will be mixing colours, and creating beautiful flowers. Using a few tips and tricks, anyone can make sweet pansies and bouquets. Letting go, and following the lead of our paints to create beautiful pictures.
Week three:
Birds.
Realistic and whimsical. During week 3 we will be painting different birds. This week we will explore adding ink to our watercolour as well as discovering the magic of watercolour pencil crayons.
Week four:
Trees! Simple to complex, adding trees to landscapes and as stand alone pictures. It's fall, let's embrace the colours we see and paint some fall trees.
Week five:
Chickens: Painting chickens is so fun and funny and a great way to practice colour mixing, pen work, and how to use gesture and expressions to create unique and often hilarious characters.
Week six:
Putting it all together
During the last class we will revisit any of the techniques and take time for extra pracitce with any of the tools we used Also this class will be for finishing up the big piece. Also, we will discuss how to make our painting into cards to gift your friends and loved ones and practice some creative lettering.
What I want you to leave with is to confidently paint with watercolours. I never tried to paint real things because I can't draw what I see accurately, but a few years ago a challenged myself to learn how to paint trees, and what I really learned was if I try, and practice, I can paint. Watercolour is an amazingly forgiving medium when you know how to work with it and embrace it for it's wonderful characteristics. So join me, for 6 weeks of watercolour fun and discover confidence in watercolours.
For supplies you'll need:
Marie and I at Articulations have put together a supply kit for anyone wanting to get started with Watercolours.
- Watercolour paints: a set with at least blue, yellow, red, green, black, brown: Michaels carries some good selections.
- Paint brushes-I use a small, medium, and large watercolour brushes, as well as a liner brush is amazing
- 4 or more 4" X 6" ish cards of watercolour paper or a watercolour art pad (Canson is good) each week 300 gm/140 pound
- painting boards or something to tape your paper to (some use their counter)
- an 8" X 10" or whatever size you want, piece of watercolour paper for your big painting. I like rectangles so mine is 7" X 11"
- An old credit card or library card
- Plate or palette-dollar store
- Masking tape
- Spray bottle (dollar store)
- Paper towel
- White paint: guache, ink, or gesso
- 4 or 5 rinse water cups
- Salt
- Cling wrap or a thin plastic bag
- Watercolour pencil crayons (if you have them)-blue, brown and green
- Any other art supplies that you love and want to explore