Still Life in Watercolor - Capturing Reflections and Transparency

Still Life in Watercolor - Capturing Reflections and Transparency

Class | Available

140 East Main Street Tuckerton, NJ 08087 United States
TBD
Beginner/Novice
3/7/2026 (one day)
10:00 AM-2:00 PM EST on Sat
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$65.00
$55.00

Still Life in Watercolor - Capturing Reflections and Transparency

Class | Available

Shiny metal, glowing glass, shifting reflections—few subjects feel as magical in watercolor as objects that play with the light.

 In this immersive four-hour beginner workshop, you’ll learn how to confidently paint reflective metal and transparent glass through simple techniques, step-by-step demonstrations, and guided practice. Whether you’ve struggled with reflections before or have always wanted to paint still life objects that look luminous and real, this class will give you the skills and confidence to bring light to life on your paper.  

Class goals:

By the end of this class, students will:

-  Understand how reflections and transparency behave in still life subjects
-  Learn how to observe and simplify shapes, values, and edges in metal and glass
-  Practice layering washes to create depth and luminosity
-  Develop confidence in controlling hard vs. soft edges to describe form
-  Learn how to use highlights strategically to create sparkle and shine
-  Complete at least one finished still life study featuring reflective or transparent objects

What to Expect:

During this class, you will experience:

-  A short introductory discussion on light, shadow, and reflective/transparent surfaces 
-  Step-by-step demonstrations on painting metal reflections and glass
-  Guided warm-upexercises: value scale, edge control, and small transparency studies
-  A structured approach to choosing light placement and interpreting reflections
-  Individual feedback and support throughout the painting process
-  Plenty of hands-on practice with time to complete a small finished still life study

You’ll leave with:

-  A finished watercolor still life study featuring at least one glass or metal object
-  Practice sheets demonstrating value work, edge control, and reflection studies
-  A clearer understanding of how to “see like an artist” when observing reflective objects
-  Increased confidence in handling watercolor techniques such as glazing, lifting, and controlling edges
-  Skills they can apply immediately to future watercolor still lifes and landscapes

Sign up now to master the illusion of glass transparency and metal reflections in your watercolor paintings!

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Cesaretti, Kimberly
Kimberly Cesaretti

Kim was born in northern New Jersey, residing in Elizabeth and Hillside prior to moving “down the shore” with her family to Lanoka Harbor in December, 1971, where she and her two younger sisters were raised. She has been an artist since early childhood, from the moment she could pick up a crayon and make marks on paper. While a student attending Lacey Township High School, Kim participated in the New Jersey State Teen Arts Festival where her watercolor work was chosen to tour the state. Also, one of her oil paintings won second place in the New Jersey State Congressional Art Competition in her senior year. After high school, Kim attended the prestigious Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. She continued her education at Ocean County College (OCC) and, while a student there, Kim landed a job as a Graphics Artist at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Lakehurst (NAWCADLKE), NJ. She continued her career there after earning her Associate Degree in Fine Arts from OCC and then went on to earn a degree in Art Education from Georgian Court College in May 1995. Upon graduation, Kim received the Art Award from the Art Department at GCC and the Dean’s Medal of Academic Excellence (Highest GPA, Evening Division). While still employed as a Graphics Artist at NAWC, Kim earned a Master of Science in Systems Management with a Certificate in Technology Management from Capitol College, Laurel, MD in May 1998. After a seven year career as a Graphics Artist, Kim took the opportunity to enter the acquisition field in the Department of Defense as a Contract Specialist in August, 1997. Then, in January, 2000, Kim was hired as an Adjunct Instructor at Georgian Court College/Georgian Court University to help start and develop a web design program for the Art Department. Kim married her husband, Albert, in October, 2000. They have two daughters.