Wednesdays, 1:30-4:30 pm.
A course in painting architectural subjects and city scenes in gouache, using photographs as a reference. Overcome your reluctance to take on houses, shops and other structures in your painting because they’re “too complicated”. This simplified approach uses measured observation to reduce the complexity to basic forms, and then refine them with your chosen level of detail.
Gouache (opaque watercolor) is a fun and easy to use water based medium that dries quickly to a beautiful mat finish. Unlike transparent watercolor, gouache allows for painting light colors over dark, providing greater freedom in how a painting is created.
Topics will include choosing a composition, transferring photographic reference to your paper, paint handling & consistency, painting in layers, techniques for suggesting textures, and how to mix a wide range of colors from a limited palette.
The class will include basic, simplified instruction in one and two point perspective.
Procedure will consist of following demonstrations by the instructor and individual instruction based on each student’s level of accomplishment.
Materials:
Gouache paint (Winsor & Newton or Holbein are good brands) (Not “Acryla” or “Acryl” gouache, not “jelly” or “Himi” gouache)
Colors: Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Pale or Light (not “Hue”), Perelyne Maroon (W&N) or Alizarin Crimson, Winsor Red (W&N) or Pure Red (Holbein), Burnt Sienna, Permanent White
Short handled synthetic brushes labeled for mixed media or acrylic 1/2 inch flat wash (or shader) 1/4 inch flat wash (or #6 or #8 flat shader) – ideally, 2 of these, #4 or #6 round
Heavy (140lb / 300gsm) watercolor or mixed media paper — hot press or vellum surface preferred, cold press surface acceptable, 8×10 or 9×12”
Watercolor palette with generous mixing area, or “Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette”
Spray Mister bottle, for keeping palette wet
Water container – cup or jar
Sketchbook, pencil & eraser for initial sketching
Presented by the Community Arts Center of Wallingford, PA
Tuition: $425 for 12 weeks instruction (CAC member discount available)
