Some Housekeeping!
10.30 am – 3.30 ( arrive around 10.15 for a 10.30 start….gives time to have a coffee and run through the plan for the session )
The dates …
30 sept – 7 oct – 14 oct – 21 oct – 4 nov – 11 nov – 18 nov – 25 nov
The cost …
£400
The studio
Over 8 weeks we will explore the landscape around my home and studio in watercolour, which is a wonderful, versatile medium that can be both transparent and opaque, subtle and bold. People are often put off using watercolour because they hear how hard it can be to use; I want to dispel these myths. The aim over the 8 weeks is to achieve a controlled ‘chaos’ in the paintings made. We will explore and have fun with all the possibilities this amazing medium can bring, whilst at the same time concentrating on the practice of observation, interpretation and the core skills for handling watercolour.
We will start each week with a couple of warm up exercises which are intended to be fun and to relax you. I will also demonstrate and introduce new techniques each week. The aim is to bring a spontaneity and freshness to painting in watercolour that will enable you to capture the colours and beauty of the landscape . Over the 8 weeks you will build up a library of techniques from the exercises and materials you practice. I will recap from the previous weeks, and for beginners, the things learned will start to become natural and second nature. For those with more experience, you will be able to develop your paintings in new directions. Every week we will spend a little time analysing what we have covered in each session. Over the 8 weeks we will also study other artists work and analyse their approach, techniques, colour and composition.
The Pond in the Woods
Techniques that we will use….
Wet in to wet…. resists…. watercolour mediums….painting with found objects ( twigs, feathers, stones, sand,) rice…. clingfilm…. paperbags…. cottonwool…. sponging out…. methods for softening out…scratching out….softening dry areas…. sanding…. straws…bleach….stencils…salt….alcohol…spraying…splattering….drybrush…large brushwork….washes….layering and blending…graduated colour washes…different papers and brush techniques
Exercises over the 8 weeks (using the techniques listed above)….
Quick small observational drawing and painting in watercolour ( I will set up lots of small still lives, with flowers and hedgerow finds )
Tonal painting and colour mixing
Soft , gentle colour…looking at
Large, fast and free, expressive mark making
Observational studies of flowers, fruit and gathered hedgerow material
Watercolour sketching as note taking in the garden or field dependant on weather
Working from photographs…this is fine occasionally, however it is very important to use them carefully and not rely on them for all the information , they can offer one form of reference
Planning and scale
Negative painting
Japanese brushes and mark making
Colour, tone, and composition
Adding gouache to your watercolour
I will provide….
Large scale drawing paper, drawing materials , some coloured inks, and various synthetic brushes (there will be as much tea, coffee and biscuits as needed to keep energy levels up!)
You will need to bring….
Large watercolour sketch book 20 x 14 inches HP 300 gsm ( or NOT)
Small sketch book – 140 gsm
A large palette ( Jacksons, Cass Art sell good ones..plastic is fine )
Brushes ( 3 different sizes of sable brush (Winsor and Newton), small rigger brush, fan brush, 11/2 inch one stroke brush (can be synthetic ) and a pure squirrel mop size 8 or 10
Watercolours – either tube or pan – recommended list of colours below ( I use Schmicke, but bring the paints you like to use )
cadmium red, alizarin crimson, quinacridone rose, cadmium yellow, hansa yellow deep, phthalo green, sap green, ultramarine, phthalo blue, manganese blue, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, raw sienna, indian red, raw umber, burnt umber, paynes grey
A Sandwich
Apron
Cancellation policy: If you need to cancel, I will refund you 50% of the cost of the workshop, then re-advertise your place. If the place is filled you will be refunded the other 50%. This must be done three weeks before the date of the workshop or class. If you cancel later than this, you will only be refunded if a replacement is found. I may have to move or cancel a class if it is under-subscribed. I will give as much notice as possible however if this means you will be unable to attend I will refund you the full amount.