Wednesdays, June 19 – July 24, 2024, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Enjoy the fun of painting “en plein air” — painting directly from nature on location using gouache (opaque watercolor).
Presented by the Wallingford Community Arts Center
Topics will include:
finding a subject and creating a composition; starting a painting; understanding value and edges; creating textures to suggest foliage, tree trunks, grasses and other surfaces; gouache paint handling; layering and adjusting the thickness of the paint; brush handling; paint mixing; understanding the color characteristics of hue, value and chroma; and mixing a wide range of colors from a simple limited palette.
The class will include demonstration by the instructor as well as individual instruction at each student’s level of experience.
Materials:
• gouache paint in the following 5 colors: Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow (ideally Light or Pale), Perelyne Maroon (or Alizarin Crimson), Burnt Sienna, Permanent White (Titanium White); (recommended brands: Winsor and Newton Designers Gouache, Holbein, M. Graham, Daniel Smith)
• short handled synthetic brushes suitable for acrylic or mixed media (example: the Beste line from Jerry’s Artarama): 1/2 flat (ideally 2 of these), 1/4” flat (two of these), 1/8” flat, #2 round;
• watercolor paper 5×7″, 8×10″, or 9×12”, ideally hot press, cold press also OK, at least 140lb/300gsm or heavier; or watercolor sketchbook with similar paper
• water jar for cleaning brushes (plastic peanut butter jar, for example);
• small water jar for clean water;
• spray mister (atomizer) for keeping paint wet on the palette;
• watercolor or acrylic palette with generous mixing area (a small Masterson “Sta-wet Palette” can be advantageous);
• a few paper towels;
• something to hold your palette and paper like a pochade box, field easel, or drawing board leaned against an extra folding chair; you can also work in your lap in a watercolor sketchbook if you prefer
• plus whatever you need for 3 hours outdoors — folding chair, sunscreen, drinking water, hat, etc. (we will be in the shade)
Register with Wallingford Community Arts Center
Location: Pendle Hill (entrance next to the Community Arts Center entrance, first parking area to the left as you enter)
