Learn to paint landscapes in watercolor inspired by Florence, Italy! We’ll discuss different techniques and approaches for natural features, plus basic perspective for including buildings in your work. Projects will be based on photos the teacher took on a trip to Italy years ago. Zero experience, some experience, and intermediate experience levels are all welcome!

Recommended Art Supplies:

a small block of watercolor paper

- cold-press paper is a good choice if you want to focus on painting

- hot-press paper is a good choice if you want to draw with ink and then paint

- smaller sizes like 5”x7”or 8”x10” are best for painting fast

a pigment ink pen

- single-width 0.5 (or larger) - Sakura Pigma Micron or Faber-Castell Pitt Pens are good choices

a small watercolor set 

- pans are easier to transport, but tubs offer more options

Watercolor Brushes

- a reservoir brush with water in the handle is really convenient - but regular short-handle watercolor brushes are also great!

a mechanical pencil

a paper towel (or an old washcloth)

Optional Art Supplies:

artist or painters’ tape

a binder clip (or bulldog clip)

a compact travel easel (if you like to work upright)

Do you want to get into art, but aren’t sure where to start? Don’t really want to get supplies without knowing if you’ll like a new medium? This is your chance to try before you buy! Each week we’ll make a project using different materials and different techniques, so that you can get a feel for what you enjoy most. Options include acrylics, abstract pouring, watercolors, dry pastels, polymer clay, resin casting, and block printing. (Class interest will determine the specific mediums and projects that we do.) All supplies are included!

There will be no class Feb 19th

This class is for beginners. We will explore how the paint moves with the water, experience how different paper reacts with the paint, practice layering color to add depth and shading, how colors blend, brushstrokes and basic drawing. Participants will have two finished pieces and gain more confidence with the medium.

There will be no class on Feb 18th

Supplies List: 

Palette - any style, white, plastic with enough room to mix colors Mason jar, or something to hold water

Paint: A grumbacher watercolor paint set will work

. If you want to invest in tubes of paint, a suggested basic palette of colors: • Cool Red – Permanent Alizarin Crimson • Warm Red – Cadmium Red Light, Light Red or Vermillion • Cool Blue: Cobalt Blue • Warm Blue: Thalo Blue or Prussian Blue • Warm Yellow: Yellow Ochre or Raw Sienna • Cool Yellow: Light Yellow • Warm Green: Gold Green or Sap Green • Cool Green: Veridian Green or Emerald Green • Earths: Sepia, or Burnt Sienna • Payne's grey

Size 10 round watercolor brush

Size 5 or 6 round watercolor brush

3/4 or 1 inch Flat wash watercolor brush

Rigger watercolor brush

pencil

Kneaded eraser

At least 10 sheets of watercolor paper: 9x12, can be hot press or cold press, can be in a tablet or a block. Some examples are Canson 9x12 Portrait, Wirebound or Watercolor pad; Arches 9x12 watercolor block, 140 lb.

This class is for those with some experience with watercolor. The focus will be on mapping out where the paper will serve as the white of snow, and have fun creating vibrant winter paintings. Participants will have two finished pieces and gain more confidence with the medium. 

Supplies List: 

Palette - any style, white, plastic with enough room to mix colors Mason jar, or something to hold water

Paint: A grumbacher watercolor paint set will work

. If you want to invest in tubes of paint, a suggested basic palette of colors: • Cool Red – Permanent Alizarin Crimson • Warm Red – Cadmium Red Light, Light Red or Vermillion • Cool Blue: Cobalt Blue • Warm Blue: Thalo Blue or Prussian Blue • Warm Yellow: Yellow Ochre or Raw Sienna • Cool Yellow: Light Yellow • Warm Green: Gold Green or Sap Green • Cool Green: Veridian Green or Emerald Green • Earths: Sepia, or Burnt Sienna • Payne's grey

Size 10 round watercolor brush

Size 5 or 6 round watercolor brush

3/4 or 1 inch Flat wash watercolor brush

Rigger watercolor brush

pencil

Kneaded eraser

At least 10 sheets of watercolor paper: 9x12, can be hot press or cold press, can be in a tablet or a block. Some examples are Canson 9x12 Portrait, Wirebound or Watercolor pad; Arches 9x12 watercolor block, 140 lb.