Watercolor: Tips, Tricks and Techniques

Sunday, June 25 / 10 am – 4 pm

Take that next step with your watercolor painting. In this class you will learn various ways to create texture, move the viewer’s eye through your painting and how to push those values to make your subject pop! Class will work on small sample pieces for each technique, with room for notes and experimentation. Instructor will reference such artists as Carl Purcell, Karen Frey, Charles Reid and John Salminen. Students do not need to be an expert watercolorist for this class but will enjoy learning more about how to create special effects and contrast to make your paintings sparkle.

Instructor: Ronnie Rector
Ages: Adult (15+) / Some watercolor experience

Supply list:

• Watercolor* sketch book, 5×7 or larger. For your samples and notes.  I recommend Stillman & Birn’s Beta Series, Arches Field sketchbooks, and Moleskin. Check NV Fine Arts in Reno or online. Or buy a full sheet of Arches 140 lb cold press and cut/tear it into eight 5.5×7.5 pieces.
• Pen and pencil, to sketch with and take notes.
• Watercolor** brushes: A #6 and #10 round, and a 1” flat, will be adequate. I recommend Silver’s Black Velvet brushes as an excellent, not-too-expensive choice.
• Watercolor paints of your choice. “Artist grade” paint, please – colors are stronger and more vivid.  My favorite colors are listed at the end of this, if you’re interested.
• Watercolor palette of your choice. I recommend having a few good-sized mixing areas, but bring whatever you’re comfortable working with.
• Water Container
• Small container of salt
• Spray bottle for water
• Sea sponge if you have one. If not, you can watch the demonstrated techniques and see if you like them.
• Paper Towels
• Blow Dryer

*Be sure your sketchbook is made with (at a minimum) 140 lb. watercolor paper, which can hold up to applications of water and paint without shredding like sketch paper.

**Brushes used for acrylics will not provide the results you want to see when working in watercolor. 

Instructor Paint Brand/Color Suggestions:

• Ultramarine Blue (M. Graham)   
• Burnt Sienna (M. Graham)
• Permanent Alizarin Crimson (Holbein)
• Phthalo Green (M. Graham)
• Cadmium Yellow Orange (Holbein)
• Cobalt (M. Graham)
• Yellow Ochre (Holbein)
• Scarlet Lake (Holbein)
• Azo Yellow (M.Graham)
• Opera (Holbein)
• Quinacridone Gold (Daniel Smith)
• Olive Green (M. Graham)   
• Sap Green (Winsor Newton or M. Graham)

Don’t limit yourself to just these, though! Other fun colors include Vertider Blue, Peacock Blue, Prussian Blue, pretty much all of the Quinacridone colors, and Daniel Smith’s Cascade Green.