Exploring Watercolor
Adult Classes | This program is completed
This beginning class creates a foundation for a new watercolor artist to experience the joys of watercolors. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of watercolors in a structured format that covers the basics, working with the grid to learn drawing techniques and the five-value system. Once mastered, students will move on to learning about color, create color hues, and go through a step by step process to creating a watercolor painting.
- Paper size no bigger than 12X16 blocks or pads (recommended: Fluid 100 or Arches)
- Watercolor Pigments
- Colors- Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre or Raw Umber, Cadmium Yellow, Viridian, French Ultramarine Blue, Manganese Blue, Payne’s Gray
- Recommended manufacturers: Winsor Newton, Mission, Holbein, QoR (You can purchase tubes of student grade if you cannot find artist grade)
- Brushes
- Rounds #4,8,10, filberts #6,8, flat shader #16, flat wash ¾ inch.
- Recommended manufacturers: Simply Simmons (inexpensive) or Escoda
- Masking fluid
- Gum Arabic
- Watercolor palette – Fusion palette is a great compact palette
- Stretching surface – wood board, foam core board
- Masking tape
- Water vessels 2
- Eye dropper
- HB pencil
- Kneaded eraser
- Paper towels
- Sponges
- Tooth picks
- Q-tips
- Required Book Purchase: Exploring Watercolor- available at first class
- Several art stores in town have what you will need on your materials list:
- Koenig Art Emporium on Central, Family Hobby on 10th St. N., Hobby Lobby on US 41, Michael’s on Pine Ridge Rd.
- On-line Stores: Dick Blick, Cheap Joe’s, Jerry’s Artarama
Rosemarie Kirk
As an artist I have studied art and painters my whole life. Two painters that have been instrumental in influencing my work are N.C. Wyeth and Georgia O’Keefe. I was profoundly moved by their use of color and design to create the illusion of realism. Though these two painters had very different styles, the brush work and emotion created by the paint on their canvas pushed me to improve my skills. I am constantly looking at color and values in the work I do today. I take pride in the fact that I am still learning.
I use many mediums to instruct students: watercolor, acrylic, collage and silk painting. The medium of silk painting is loose and inherently abstract in nature, allowing for the free exploration of color and form. All of these are important in the processes involving personal examination and self-discovery. In addition, the soft values and colors created with this medium are soothing and therapeutic.