Afternoon Watercolor
Welcome to afternoon Watercolor, spring session. This site is just for you, filled with references and prep work to prepare you for our weekly LIVE art lessons, video review to catch you up if you fell behind or if you want to repeat the lesson. Check back on this site weekly to prepare for upcoming watercolor lessons. Remember the password: springmake to get access throughout the month.
Supply Suggestions
Necessary Supplies : You will need watercolor paper that is at least 140# in weight, a set of watercolors, a brush ( I prefer a synthetic round #6 as a starting point), mixing palette (you can use a plastic disposable plate or a porcelain one from the thrift store, paper towels, water cup, tape ( I recommend painters tape) and a pencil and eraser,
Not a total necessity, but I we may use some throughout class time: a flat surface to tape to (an old board, the back of a cookie sheet, or a piece of cardboard will work - or just use your table if you like and tape directly to it), table salt, rubbing alcohol, kleenex type tissue, white colored pencil, crayon or oil pastel, an old toothbrush, a hairdryer, masking fluid, sumi ink, white paint marker or pen, micron pen, transfer paper.
You can complete this class with only the must have necessary supplies listed above. Use what you have on hand if you can. If you are someone that likes to purchase exact products, here is recommended list:
Watercolor Paper. Set of watercolors. Round #6 Watercolor brush or set of watercolor brushes painters tape. mixing palette.
If you want it all, add these non essentials to your shopping cart: sumi ink. white paint marker. transfer paper. micron pens. masking fluid
More information and options on the necessities can be found on this blog post.
Warm ups - optional
WARMUP: Getting to Know your Paints. Check out the handout The Basics of Watercolor, read it to get a little background on watercolor paint before getting started and try out some of these practice techniques to get those brush moving again.
WARMUP: Make a Watercolor Grid. Draw a grid on a spare sheet of watercolor paper, like in the video below or download and print the handout onto cardstock: Watercolor Color Mixing Grid use these to document color combinations. (look at the following video for details)
Connecting
As you work through class material, there are a variety of ways to connect with me and other students.
LIVE CLASSES Our live classes are held on Tuesday afternoons at 3:00 and will last around an hour, while no means necessary as everything is stored as video guides here on the site, it’s a nice place to check in and see some friendly faces and ask questions while we are painting. Live classes are held through ZOOM. Login links and passcodes stay the same all month long, Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 854 7633 1748
EMAIL I would love to see photos in progress or of completed works. Please send me an email my way if you want to share or receive feedback. As always, email as well if you have any questions as well. makeartstudios@gmail.com
Week 1: April 20th
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to watercolor paper with a pencil. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick. Tape your paper (in square format this week) onto your table or a flat surface like a spare piece of cardboard or the back of a cookie sheet.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 2: April 27th
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to watercolor paper with a pencil. There are two paintings for this week, I’m hopeful we can get to both! Choose either the larger size and transfer to two sheets of watercolor paper, one large image on each. Or, choose to paint slightly smaller, and transfer both paintings on on piece of watercolor paper. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 1: May 4th
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to watercolor paper with a pencil. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish. Your choice if you want to tape down or not this week. Some of our background will be painted but it’s up to you if you wish to start with a large all over wash.
REFERENCES:
Link to more info on Frida Kahlo: Frida Kahlo Slideshow
VIDEO:
Week 2: May 11th
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to watercolor paper with a pencil. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish. Your choice if you want to tape down or not this week. Some of our background will be painted but it’s up to you if you wish to start with a large all over wash. You might want an opaque white material to add some light back in; grab a white colored pencil, paint pen, gel pen, or white gouache or acrylic if you have it.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 3: May 17th class is on Monday this week*
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to two pieces of watercolor paper with a pencil. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 4: May 25th
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to watercolor paper with a pencil. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 1: June 1st
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to watercolor paper with a pencil and taped down to a flat surface. Grab a pen, fine tipped sharpie, or micron pen. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 2: June 8th
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to watercolor paper with a pencil and taped down to a flat surface. There are two patterns on one piece of paper, we will work on one during class - feel free to only trace one of you would rather not attempt later on your own. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 3: June 15th
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to either one piece of watercolor paper (just put all four on one page) or use two pieces of paper and put two of the scenes on each paper, set to the right hand side so you can fold the paper into a card. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO:
Week 4: June 22nd
BEFORE YOU LOGIN TO LIVE LESSON: Be ready with the pattern drawing transferred to either one piece of watercolor paper (just put all four on one page) or use two pieces of paper and put two of the scenes on each paper, set to the right hand side so you can fold the paper into a card. You can use transfer paper, a light table, or the ol’ hold it up to a window trick, and of course you are always encouraged to draw your own version if you wish.
REFERENCES:
VIDEO: