Study the anatomy and form of dahlias and reproduce their vivid colours and distinctive shapes while developing your skills in essential watercolour techniques.

This course will help you to improve your skills in watercolour techniques as you gain confidence in handling this delicate and lively medium. Learn how to reproduce the vivid colours and multiple petals of the flower heads, and improve your knowledge and understanding of colours and colour-mixing theory.

You will use sketches to develop your drawings and tonal work. Painting techniques covered include wet-in-wet, colour-mixing, composition, tone and shadows, planning a painting and keeping a sketchbook.

A range of dahlias from single, simpler forms to multiple-flowered pompoms will be available for you to choose from. Your tutor will support you with demonstrations and individual tuition throughout.

By the end of the course, you will be more familiar with the watercolour painting process, have gained theoretical knowledge, as well as practice, and you will understand the anatomy of dahlias. You will have improved your ability to identify colours and reproduce them, and you will have produced at least one finished painting.

Included

Dahlias from West Dean Gardens

What students need to bring

Watercolour paper at least 300gsm, Hot Pressed, or watercolour paper 640gsm, Hot Pressed (some quarter sheets of the heavy paper will be available to buy from the tutor) Watercolour paints, preferably Artists’ quality: bring everything you have and the tutor will give you some advice during the course Brushes (synthetics are preferable to sables), numbers 6, 4, 2 and 00 Drawing equipment (pencil, putty rubber, plastic rubber, pencil sharpener) Tracing paper, sketchbook or cartridge paper Gummed tape (if you stretch your paper) Tracedown transfer paper if you have any Masking tape or washi tape

Eight essential watercolours: Green-bias yellow: Daniel Smith Hansa Yellow Light, or Daler-Rowney/Schmincke Lemon Yellow Orange-bias yellow: New Gamboge or Indian Yellow Orange-bias red: Scarlet or Vermilion Violet-bias red: Permanent Alizarin Crimson or Permanent Carmine Pink: Permanent Rose (not Opera Rose) Violet-bias Blue: French Ultramarine Green-bias Blue: Phthalo Blue Green Shade or Winsor Blue Green Shade White: Titanium White Other useful colours: Quinacridone Red or Quinacridone Coral, Magenta, Perylene Violet, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber Water pot Cotton cloths Any equipment you usually use Any dahlias you wish to bring

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials including: Watercolour paper 300gsm Hot Pressed or NOT in a block (glued on 4 sides) Watercolour paper 640gsm Hot Pressed if in loose sheets Brushes (synthetics are preferable to sables) number 6, 4, 2 and 00 Drawing equipment (pencil, putty rubber, plastic rubber, pencil sharpener), tracing paper, sketchbook or cartridge paper, gummed tape (if you stretch your paper) Watercolour paints

Available from tutor: Heavy watercolour paper by 1/4 sheet Transfer paper Daniel Smith paints (in pans and in small sets) Washi tape

Additional information

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

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

Terms & Conditions