Watercolor, Beginner and Intermediate

Ages: 16+

Skill level: absolute beginner

Syllabus:

Lesson 1

• Basic watercolor paint application
• Brushwork techniques; students will create swatches with their own watercolors
• Color Theory: Understanding color basics

Lesson 2

• Simple landscape using basic washes for sky and grass
• Creating clouds
• Painting trees
• Mixing colors on the paper, not on the palette

Lesson 3

• Still life with fruit and flowers incorporating all three lessons

Lesson 4

• Basic beach scene. ( Instructor will provide examples, or the student may supply reference material.)

Lesson 5

• Finish up any incomplete work or work from new reference material of the students choice

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Materials (students are responsible for bringing their own materials)

• Basic Watercolors: Prang Half Pan Watercolor Paint Set
• The Prang half pan set has a good variety of colors.

Colors

• Alizarin Crimson or Carmine
• Cadmium Red *
• Cadmium Yellow Medium*
• Lemon Yellow
• Sap Green*
• Viridian Green*
• Ultramarine Blue *
• Cerulean Blue
• Cobalt blue

*must have colors if buying watercolor paint in tubes.

Yellow will need to be replenished soon. You can use a tube of cadmium yellow medium to refill the paint tray.

Be sure you get TRANSPARENT WATERCOLOR PAINT, NOT GOUACHE. Gouache looks slightly different as it will look a little chalky in the pans, like tempera paint, and the paint cakes are often in round pans.

Brushes

• Purchase brushes comparable to the ones suggested below. Should have at least a large brush and a #6 plus a “liner’ brush, which is the smallest, thinnest one in the set
• Sable Watercolor Brushes Professional Kolinsky Watercolor Paint Brushes for Artists 6pcs, available on Amazon.com for under $20.00

Watercolor Paper:

• 11”x15” XL Canson Watercolor Pad, 30 sheets 140 lb cold-pressed/acid-free**
• 9” x 12” XL Canson Watercolor pad, 30 sheets 140 lb. cold-pressed/acid-free**

Mixing palette

• Students may use the lid of the paint set to mix their colors. Students can also bring in a WHITE plastic dinner plate for an additional color mixing surface.

A gallon jug of water

• Approximate cost: $2.00

If you prefer to shop locally for your supplies, you can purchase comparable items at Michaels, Jerry’s Artarama, or any arts and crafts store of your choice.

Notes:

• **Michaels rarely has these papers in the store. If you're going to pay shipping, it's better to go to Dick Blick. Check out their sizes and styles of binding of Canson XL pads.
• We have found that some of the other watercolor pad brands have a pattern pressed into the paper that will cause you many problems. Best to stick with the Canson XL, as recommended by another very good teacher, and I have also found it to be good. There are even better brands, but they are more expensive, often $1.00 per sheet per pad. As a beginner, no need to spend more; the Canson XL will be fine.
• The main criteria to watch for is Acid Free/Cold Pressed 140lb at least.
• It is recommended that you buy a Mixed Media pad for your compositional studies and testing paint colors as you are painting.

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About the Instructor, Donna Osterby-Brien

Donna Osterby-Brien has had a love affair with watercolor since studying at Parsons School of Design. Though proficient with many other mediums, she has been told, “You shine brightly” when using watercolor.”

“My approach to watercolor is to use a fully loaded brush of beautiful color. It is, after all, WATER – COLOR.” Together we will learn to ‘tame this medium’ and allow its semi-transparent nature to really shine.”

Osterby-Brien is a member of several local arts associations, including Arts Alliance of Stratford, BRAG, and Artists Collective of Westport. She has won awards in juried exhibits and has had several solo shows in libraries, museums, and other venues in the Tri-State area.

Terms & Conditions: By submitting your registration for this class, you agree to our workshop terms & conditions and refund policy.

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