Too often, Watercolours are stiff, rigid, tight and ultimately, boring. Half the fun is watching them paint themselves. In this workshop, we’ll concentrate on creating traditional scenes in a fun and dynamic way where TONE is The King and Atmosphere is The Queen. A big part of the course will be learning to let go of the restraints and shackles that sometimes grip far too tightly onto the brushes and minds of a watercolourist. There is no snobbery here, just fun and learning.
Let’s splash some paint around!!
Materials List - Tony White
These are merely suggestions based on what I use personally, but feel free to just bring whatever materials you are familiar and comfortable with.
We’ll be working from original references that I’ll be providing electronically and working on Quarter-Sheet or A3 sized paper, so please bring a board and easel to suit and set up comfortably just as you would at home.
I will set up on a table-top easel and paint sitting down, but you set up however you like.
Paper: (this is the only thing I am pedantic about. You will not get good results with bad paper) Saunders OR Arches, Rough 300gsm
Brushes: Mops, Fans, Rounds, Hakes, Flats, Riggers. Variety of sizes.
Colours: Brand-wise, I use Schmincke. They are fantastic quality but once again, you don’t have to go and spend up big. Anything you have already, we will work with and if you’re on a budget, Cotman student-grade paints do a great job.
My Colour palette is as follows
Neutral Tint
Burnt Sienna
Transparent (or Cadmium) Orange
Turner’s (or Cadmium) Yellow
Brilliant Blue Violet (or any cool violet)
Bordeaux (or Alizarin Crimson)
Scarlet Red (or just a BRIGHT red)
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Blue
Turquiose
Jaune Brilliant (Holbein do this as well or Naples Yellow will get us there as well)
Titanium White
Notebook or sketchbook and pencil
Water container
Towels.
Tissues
Hairdryer and Extension lead
Spray Bottle
Old credit card or keycard . Something to scrape with if needed.
Masking tape or bulldog clips for your backing board (whatever your preference is)
Enthusiasm and willingness to have a great day! (NOT negotiable) J
Testemonial from student in Brisbane
I would just like to thank you for such a wonderful workshop over the past three days. I had always wanted to try watercolour painting and was always too intimidated by it but you literally gave me the confidence I needed to start and now I have, I’m finding just how much fun and how liberating watercolours are! Your method of teaching was informative, inspirational and relaxed, the perfect environment to foster a blossoming love for this wonderful medium and I can’t wait to do another workshop with you again sometime in the near future. Thank you again!! All the very best, Carrie