Watercolors PA04

Adult Classes | This program is completed

200 Broad Street Sewickley, PA 15143 United States

Community Room

Adult

9/11/2017-10/30/2017

1:00 PM-4:00 PM EDT on Mon

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$240.00

$210.00

We will begin with the basics as we learn about brushes, paints, and paper and move into the all-important design and composition. Watch how your paintings will come alive when the foundation is exciting. Personal expression, abstract or otherwise, is encouraged. Lessons are designed to explore color and compositional possibilities to spark ordinary subjects into eye-catching visuals. All levels welcome. A materials list may be found online at www.SweetwaterArtCenter.org/classes.

  • Bring your full set-up, if you have one, such as easel or table-top easel and board, Sweetwater has worktables, boards, and chairs but a limited number of artist stools.
  • COLORS: From tubes. Substitutions are OK, but try to match this list.
  • (Yellow) Aurolin,(Red) Cadmium Red Light or Scarlet, (Blue) Cobolt and Ultramarine, (Green) Pthalo Green, (Orange) New Gamboge. Also: Viridian, Raw Umber, Titanium White.
  • Students do ask which colors I use. This list is not mandatory:
  • Rose Madder Genuine, Quinacridone Rose, Pthalo Blue, Manganese, Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Red, Pyrrol Orange, mostly all available from Daniel Smith (See below).
  • BRUSHES: Any watercolor variety including 1 ½" or larger wash, 1/2" flat, and some rounds.
  • PAPER: IMPORTANT; any brand that is 100% cotton 140# cold press, Arches, Kilimanjaro, Winsor & Newton, Lanaquarelle, etc. Full sheets 22” x 30” which can be cut into quarter sheets. (Strathmore/Canson brands are poor quality for watercolor). Scrap paper. Sketch book, any size.
  • ALSO: Mixing palette with a large mixing area. I use Robert E. Wood Palette. Other suggested palettes are Tom Lynch, Skip Lawrence, John Pike, etc. Soft drawing pencils, paper towels or rags, masking tape and paper clamps (Bulldog style). ½ QT. or larger water container.
  • OPTIONAL: PLEXIGLASS 8” x 10” AND GREASE PENCIL, For drawing and design lesson.
  • Black grease pencil or china marker available at any hardware or art supply.
  • Drawing skills are important but will not be emphasized in this workshop. I sometimes do a pre-drawn subject for my demo (to save time). And you can do the same, but please keep it simple and loose. A still-life/model will be provided; however, students may choose from their own subject matter sketches or photos. 3-D objects are encouraged. Demos will be given and individual and group critiques will be encouraged. This is not the time to be shy. Paintings do not need to be finished. This is not a demonstration-imitation workshop, but lessons will be designed to encourage students to explore new color and composition approaches that will make ordinary subjects into exciting paintings.
  • ART SUPPLY CATALOGS:
  • www.aswexpress.com
  • 1-800-995-6778
  • www.cheapjoes.com
  • 1-800-227-2788
  • www.danielsmith.com
  • 1-800-426-6740

“A surge of visual impact here, a wisp of creative style there, if it looks good, leave it alone.” Ron Thurston is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society and a past President of the Pittsburgh Watercolor Society. He is a founding member of Pittsburgh Under Water and a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators. Ron has a long career as a commercial artist, whether from design firms in the advertising market, or in the personal commission field where his reputation as one of the area’s premier watercolor painters brings many buyers to his work. Ron’s favorite borrowed philosophy comes from the artist Henry Koerner: “If you do something with love, love looks back at you.” For ten years Ron was the President of Watercolors, an artist-owned gallery located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s downtown cultural district. He currently teaches watercolor workshops at Sweetwater and Touchstone.