In this workshop, I will share with you some really great tips, tricks and techniques I have learned along the way, either through my own experimentation or from some pretty amazing artists including Carl Purcell, Karen Frey, the late, great, Charles Reid, and John Salminen. You don’t need to be an expert for this class; I’ll show you how a lot of special effects are accomplished, and how to get those really great darks that make your paintings exceptional! No middle-value blah paintings here!

Sunday, September 19
10 am – 3 pm

Instructor: Ronnie Rector
Ages: Adult (15+) | Working knowledge of watercolor painting is recommended.

Supply list:

1 or 2 artist-quality watercolors and brushes, size 8 and 6 rounds are great; a 2” or 3” Hake brush and an inexpensive rigger for masking.

• Watercolor paper – 1 full 22×30” sheet of good quality watercolor paper (Arches or Fabriano), cold press
• 1 piece 16×20” foam core or other stiff board to mount paper to
• Masking tape
• Masking fluid
• Small container of salt
• Small bar of soap (hotel sized type)
• Paper towels
• Generously sized container for water
• 1 sheet graphite transfer paper
• Ball-point pen for tracing image (suggest blue or red to see where you’ve traced)
• Spray bottle for water (small Windex bottle works great)
• Blow dryer
• 1 clean baby food jar or similar small container with secure lid

Watercolors are admired for their unique quality – translucence. Learn more about the pigments on your palette and experiment with mixing your own colors to keep the beautiful luminosity of the medium. This class explores color mixing, tonal values, color theory, painting with triads and learning how to avoid muddy mixes. Students will also learn about origins of pigments

Tuesday, August 24
5 – 9 pm

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: 15 and Up | All Levels

Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount. 

• Your personal watercolor pallet
• Paper: 2 sheets 11 x 15 inches, 140 lb cold pressed watercolor paper (paper can be purchased from the instructor during class for $2 a sheet; we will use 2 or 3 sheets) 
• Brushes: ½ or ¾ inch flat brush
• Roll of paper towels 
• Drawing pencil 
• Kneaded eraser 
• 2 Plastic water containers 

Beginning and advanced students will enjoy this five-day technique-based class focused on creating dramatic landscapes with special attention paid to the sky. Working from photo reference, students will explore the use of sensitive and effective strokes to manipulate paint with a brush and pallet knife. Students will explore texture and depth while creating dramatic landscape paintings.

Monday – Friday, October 25 – 29
9 am – noon

Instructor: David McCamant
Ages: 15 and Up | All Levels

Supply list: 

Inexpensive canvas boards or panels. Students who wish to do the homework will need to double the number of panels. 

• 1 – 11″ x 14” (OPTIONAL – add one more for homework*)
•  2 – 8″ x 10″ (OPTIONAL – add two more for homework*)
• 3 – 6″ x 8″ (OPTIONAL – add three more for homework*)

OIL PAINT – 1 – 37 ml tube of oil paint in the following colors:  

• WHITE: Titanium White (2 tubes are suggested)  
• YELLOW: Cadmium Lemon, Windsor Yellow, Hansa Yellow, Medium or Cadmium Yellow Light  
• RED: Cadmium Red Hue, Cadmium Red Medium or Cadmium Berium Red (not deep) 
• BLUE: French Ultramarine Blue or Ultramarine Blue
• BLACK: Ivory Black
• MAGENTA (OPTIONAL*): Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Red 
• CYAN (OPTIONAL*):  Thalo Blue or Phthalo Blue

 You may bring whatever paint you have as long as they are the correct hues or colors. An inexpensive option is Windsor Newton Winton student colors. ‘Artist Grade’ paints will produce better results in color mixing.

• PAINTING MEDIUM: Neo MeGilp Medium 2oz or Larger
• BRUSHES- Recommend Connoisseur brand #2106 pure synthetic oil paint brushes or any artist quality manufacturer VERY IMPORTANT. 1 each #6 and #8 Long-Handled Filberts
• PALETTE- Gray Matters, palette paper or equivalent
• CLEANING JAR- Silicoil cleaning jar or other small jar with lid
• CLEANING SOLUTION -1-8oz bottle of artist grade Walnut oil
• BRUSH CLEANER – 2.5 OZ small cake of The Masters Brush Cleaner
• PAPER TOWELS- 1 roll of BLUE shop paper towels (OPTIONAL- add one more for homework*)
• WET PANEL CARRIER- inexpensive cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil or aluminum roasting pan for wet painting transport

Students will enjoy developing their painting techniques and skills in this observational open studio class.  Weekly subject matter will rotate between nude and clothed models and still-lifes. Each class will begin with brief instruction followed by an open studio format painting class. Students may use acrylic or oil paint. Dry media is also welcome.

Sundays, October 31 – November 14
9 am – noon

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: 18 and up | All Levels

Supply list: 

Color recommendations are as follows though all mediums are welcome for this open studio class.

• Titanium White 
• Ultramarine Blue 
• Cadmium Red Medium or Light
• Lemon or Cadmium Yellow 
• Light Yellow Ochre 
• Burnt Sienna 
• Selection of brushes
• Pallet 
• Palette knife
• Painting Board or Canvas
• Container/jar water and brushes 
• Paper towels 
• Cheap Plastic Ruler
• Gamsol mineral spirits (if working in Oil)

Working in oil or acrylic paint, students will explore value divisions in landscapes and the basics of brush sketching and massing. With these skills students will learn how to relate color to value and will gain a better understanding of identifying spatial cues in a landscape. Using foundational skills students can then explore under-painting, glazing and dry-brushing techniques.

Saturday and Sunday, October 16 – 17
9 am – 2:00 pm

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: 15 and up | All Levels

Supply list:

 Paint Colors:

• Cobalt Blue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Thalo Blue
• Dioxazine Purple
• Cadmium Red Light
• Cadmium Yellow or Hansa Yellow
• Burnt Sienna
• Titanium White
• Canvas Board 16×12 or smaller
• Palette Knife
• Palette
• Paper Towels
• Selection of bristle brushes (small, med and large)
• Assortment of brushes.
• Palette knife, paper towels and a few canvas boards, 8×10 or bigger.

For Oils: Gamsol, turpentine or walnut oil for use as a brush medium or cleaner.

Students will enjoy developing their painting techniques and skills in this observational open studio class. Weekly subject matter will rotate between nude and clothed models and still-life’s. Each class will begin with brief instruction followed by an open studio format painting class. Students may use acrylic or oil paint. Dry media is also welcome.

Mondays, September 20 – October 4
6 pm – 9 pm

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: 18 and up | All Levels

Supply list: 

Color recommendations are as follows though all mediums are welcome for this open studio class.

• Titanium White 
• Ultramarine Blue 
• Cadmium Red Medium or Light
• Lemon or Cadmium Yellow 
• Light Yellow Ochre 
• Burnt Sienna 
• Selection of brushes
• Pallet 
• Palette knife
• Painting Board or Canvas
• Container/jar water and brushes 
• Paper towels 
• Cheap Plastic Ruler
• Gamsol mineral spirits (if working in Oil)

Students will be introduced to portrait painting techniques in this weekend intensive. Instructor will cover such topics as using a two-color palette, value scales, keying a painting, as well as, using both line and mass to create a portrait. Students may use acrylic or oil paint.

Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12
9 am – 2:00 pm

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: 15 and up / All Levels

Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.

• Oil/Acrylic colors:
• White
• Black
• Ultramarine Blue
• Yellow (Hansa Yellow, Cadmium Yellow or something similar)
• Assortment of brushes.
• Red (Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson or something similar)
• Palette knife, paper towels and a few canvas boards, 8×10 or bigger.

For Oils: Gamsol, tourpintine or walnut oil for use as a brush medium or cleaner.

In this 3-hour workshop we will experiment with everything but the kitchen sink painting tools! The kitchen is our inspiration, from spices to utensils. Be prepared to renew your excitement about watercolors as we play with textures, washes and special effects. All students will leave the workshop with a plethora of ideas and experiences.

Wednesday, October 6
6 – 9 pm

Instructor: Lauren Gandolfo
Ages: 15 and Up | All Levels

Using potted geraniums as subjects, students will learn the process of creating compositions from their own studies. Wet and dry techniques, hard and soft edges, and texturing will be explored. Watercolor experience is recommended. 

Tuesday and Thursday, September 14 and 16
12 – 4 pm

Instructor: Carroll Charlet
Ages: Adult (15+) / Intermediate and Advanced Watercolor Students

Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.

• Personal watercolor pallet that includes a variety greens, yellows and reds
• No 6 and No 8 pointed/round watercolor brush
• Graphite or mechanical pencil
• 2 plastic water containers
• Roll of paper towels
• Tablet of cold press 140 lb watercolor paper, minimum 9” x 12” (4 sheets will be used in class)*

* Single sheets of watercolor paper may be purchased during class $2/sheet

For questions regarding materials, contact Carroll Charlet at carrollcharlet@sbcglobal.net

This intermediate level open studio class is designed for returning students and experienced students. Students should have a personal work in progress to work towards completing in this fun and social series. Each class will begin with a short lesson addressing a challenge or technique followed by open studio time to continue work on personal projects. Instructor will be on hand to assist with challenges, offer critique, instruction, and encouragement.

Thursdays, August 12 and 19
9 am – noon

Instructor: Carroll Charlet
Ages: Adult (15+) | Intermediate and Advanced Watercolor Students

Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount. 

Please bring any supplies you own for your specific project. A recommended basic supply list is as follows: 

• Watercolors: Cobalt Blue, Phthalo Blue, Lemon Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Magenta, Sap Green, New Gamboge, Yellow Ochre. (Cotman or Van Gogh is fine; Windsor Newton is excellent)

• Your personal watercolor pallet

• 2 HB Pencils

• Watercolor Brushes: #6 & #10 Round (Silver/Black brand is recommended and available at Nevada Fine Arts)

• Pad of Arches 140# cold press watercolor paper

• Roll of paper towels

• 2 Plastic water containers.