Whatever your current level, watercolour is all about finding a balance between technical knowledge and creative freedom.

In this course you will learn how to observe, analyse and interpret a subject in a way which is focused on creating dramatic lighting effects, as well as sense of atmosphere, depth and mood.

Through a series of exercises, demonstrations and plenty of painting, you will focus on composition, tonal values, colour mixing and edges – bringing all these together in a creative and fun way to make successful paintings.

There will be an underlying thread throughout the course of working with watercolour in a loose, care-free and spontaneous way – ultimately watercolour is a fun and exciting medium. You will dive into a good amount of theory and techniques to push forward painting in this way.

Your tutor encourages you to take the core principles and techniques of watercolour and work with them in a way that feels exciting, with plenty of guidance and support when needed.

This is a studio-based course, and you will cover a variety of subjects. Your tutor will provide some reference images; however, he would also encourage you to bring plenty of your own reference material to look at and learn how to apply the principles learnt to your favourite subjects. That said, if you wish to follow the demonstrations and receive guidance on subject matter from your tutor for the duration of the course, that also works very well.

Ultimately, this is a course designed to help you break through any frustrations you may have with the medium, giving you the tools to enable you to find your artistic voice and, most of all, to have fun.

Included

4 x A3 sheets of Saunders Waterford watercolour paper 300gsm The tutor will have spare brushes and extra tubes of more unusual colours available for those who may wish to try some.

What students need to bring

Please feel free to bring your kit (if you have one) which you feel comfortable with.

Good quality watercolour paper 300gsm in size A3 (12”x16”) is a great size and some half sheets of paper (A2 size) for those who are comfortable working bigger. (You tutor will encourage you to push out of your comfort zone as the days go on regarding paper size.)

Your tutor prefers the gummed blocks for ease of use. However, individual sheets are also a great choice.

A sketchbook – always useful for note taking, sketches and general use

Brushes – a selection of brushes – whatever brands and style you are comfortable with, to include some sort of large mop brush, medium size mop and/or round, smaller round, plus any other brushes you like to use

Watercolour paints – good quality, a small selection of a warm and cool primaries (red, yellow and blue) will be plenty. Any extra colours are a bonus.

An example of your tutor’s selection (with alternatives in brackets): French Ultramarine (Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue), Prussian Blue (Phthalo Blue), Quinacridone Red (Alizarin Crimson, Rose Madder or similar), Pyrrole Red (Cadmium Red, Naphthol Red, Vermillion or similar), Lemon Yellow (Cadmium Yellow Lights, Winsor Yellow, Aureolin), New Gamboge Yellow (Cadmium Yellow or Hansa Yellow). Useful extras are: Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White (or white gouache), Turquoise. Any extra secondary (orange, purple, green) or tertiary colours, or any other colours are very welcome.

Palette - any good size palette will do

Nice big water pot

Variety of pencils (HB to 4B is fine) and rubbers

Kitchen roll and /or sponge for drying brushes whilst painting

Reference photos – a broad selection of reference subjects which appeal. It’s best to have far too many than not enough. Please bring printouts of photos, tablets/phones are great too. The tutor will provide some printouts for those who may wish to follow the demonstrations.

Appropriate clothing and a water bottle if we do drift outside at any point.

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials are available to purchase should you need them, including watercolour paints (tubes and pans), watercolour brushes, watercolour paper 300gsm and 640gsm, watercolour blocks (pads), drawing materials, sketchbooks, brushes, palettes etc.

Available from tutor: The tutor may have brushes available to purchase. The tutor will have individual sheets of good quality, half sheet (approximately 16” x 22”) watercolour paper for those who may wish to try going bigger on the course.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes.

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

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