Capturing the light with Watercolour

First, you'll learn about the materials required to produce and convey great watercolour messages to those viewing the final painting. This includes understanding paper, brushes, and pigment, and how to use them.

The next session is designed for those who find watercolour a daunting proposition! Today will provide you with the necessary foundational skills to paint beautiful watercolours. Areas covered will be wet-in-wet, wet-in-damp, dry brush, edges, temperature, tonal evaluation, subject matter, and shapes. You might be terrified at the start, but you won't be at the finish as you integrate buildings and landscapes. Terry will cover perspective, composition, painting into the light, painting with backlighting and moments from dawn to dusk. You will paint from differing vantage points, integrating buildings, animals and figures into your landscape.

We also cover one of the most avoided subjects in watercolour, 'the interior'. Light is a significant consideration. Demonstrations and explanations will show how to paint the right edges in the right circumstance. Terry will also treat the painting of different textures.

You'll explore a nautical theme that includes water, waves, reflections, boats, harbours, sand, shells, headlands, and sunny, stormy, and cloudy days. Weather permitting, there will also be an opportunity to paint 'en plein air' outdoors. Get ready for a wonderful week working with Terry and fellow students to discover the delights of watercolour painting.

Please bring the following on your first day of class:

General Supplies

• Watercolour Palette –1 plastic palette with plenty of mixing areas is fine

• Water pot

• Permanent White Gouache (Rowney is a good brand for gouache)

• 1 Roll of 25mm masking tape

• 1 medium size board to tape your watercolour onto – approx. 40cm x 45cm

• 1 2B Pencil and sharpener

• 1 kneadable eraser

• 1 drawing pad or drawing paper

• 1 pad for notes

• A rag

• Tissues

• Stool

• Small Easel

• Hat

• Sunscreen

• Insect repellent

• Water bottle -some to drink, some to paint with!

Paints - Windsor and Newton/ or any Artist Quality Brand

• Burnt Sienna

• Burnt Umber

• Cadium Orange

• Cadmium Red

• Cadmium Yellow

• Cerulean Blue

• Cobalt Blue

• Cobalt Turquoise

• Cobalt Turquoise Light

• Cobalt Violet

• French Ultramarine Blue

• Lemon Yellow

• Neutral Tint

• Permanent Magenta

• Permanent Rose

• Quinacridone Gold

• Raw Sienna

• Viridian

Brushes

• Round No. 1, No.3, No. 6, No. 8

• Mop Brush for large washes

• Synthetic Brushes are fine or sables

Paper

• Watercolour Paper 3 sheets 300gsm (Fabriano, Canson Heritage, Canson Moulin du Roy, Saunders, Arches)

• Alternately Pads or Blocks are fine

• If you have large sheets we will cut them up to 1/4sheets to work on. I FIND BLOCKS ARE SO EASY TO TRAVEL WITH!

Easels

• You may prefer to stand and paint (as I do) or sit and paint. If you prefer to sit at a table as many do, you will need a table easel or something to prop up behind your board to get a nice slope to paint your watercolours on. If you prefer to stand, a light tripod easel would be suitable, and a small table or something to rest your pallet/water/brushes/ etc. on to place alongside your easel would be handy, particularly if we get to paint en plein air (outside).

All these requirements are only a guide, of course.

For example, if you have some paint sets or can buy a set of paints a bit cheaper, by all means, bring them along. I am super flexible!

Get what you can afford, and we will work with your equipment.

Try to be ready at least 10 minutes before we start the workshop to set up your equipment so we can start on time.

Intermediate to Advanced - Suited to those who have some experience, but are looking to learn new techniques and explore more complex projects. Also suited to those who has been practicing in this area for an extended period of time and are confident with techniques and self-directed projects.