Watercolour Painting  

Overview
The things I love most about the medium of watercolours are the following:

  • It is the most portable and convenient for a travelling artist, or for quick studies for major works in this or other media

  • It is a fast-drying medium

  • They have a mind of their own! (firstly a challenge, then an exhilarating journey, always surprising.)

  • The pure white substrate with transparent layers gives luminosity and vibrance unmatched,  (if you select your pigments wisely)

  • They are an exciting challenge (oh! I said that already!)

  • It gives spontaneous, unique and variable effects and marks which are not possible with other media

  • It costs less for a student to get basically kitted out

  • Many styles of creativity are possible. Some traditional watercolourists get a little closed-minded and uppity about watercolour but seriously, no matter what style you like to develop, watercolour may be a medium you could manipulate to your own ends. (e.g. fresh, splashy and spontaneous, smooth, tight and photo-real, wild, abstract and mysterious).

YOU WILL DISCOVER

  • What are the basic materials, the fun extra tools and the ways of integrating watercolour with other media

  • How to get clean flat washes, how to create a gradient (a smooth transition from dark to light or vice versa)

  • What are the variances in behaviours of different pigments

  • How to mix your pigments cleanly to get beautiful clean secondaries, tertiaries, tints, chromatic shades and neutrals

  • How to look after your equipment to last

  • Different types and grades of paper and alternative substrates

  • How to succeed in masking and lifting out light tones.

  • How to create a large range of creative and imaginative textures

  • How to avoid making mud puddles

  • How to paint wet in wet.

  • What is dry brush painting, mixing the two techniques

  • How to best utilise glazing for clean, translucent results

Ideal Prerequisites for the Watercolour Introductory Course

As with any of the practical courses available, it is preferable to have covered the theory modules on Design & Composition, Contrast, Emphasis, Light & Shade and Colour Made Easy. Your results will be far more successful with these fundamentals under your belt. 

(regular learning materials delivery over a term + private tuition)


Other Course Options (Course delivery by email)

Watercolour 1- Course: Learning the medium, techniques & tips  $75

Watercolour 2 -  Course  + All Theory Fundamentals & Drawing Module $200

To book some Private Tuition (via Zoom or in the Studios in Port Melbourne)

Things that some don’t like about watercolours are (all easily overcome)

  • Finished artworks generally need to be behind glass and I am not alone in my reluctance to put a glazed barrier between art and viewer plus it is a large expense for an exhibiting artist (the good thing nowadays is that a watercolour canvas has been developed, so enthusiasts can dispense with the glass if desired, although it s not exactly the same as working on papers.)

  • Watercolour is a more challenging medium for learners (contrary to popular misconception, a lot more planning and understanding of each pigment's unique qualities is required). This puts some scaredy cats off! 

  • More than any other medium you need to be wary of cheap, nasty imitations that fail to deliver the desired results ( because they are inferior pigments padded out with up to 92% fillers and extenders)

What you will learn in the Watercolour Introductory Course