Watercolour: Beginners

Have you ever thought you might enjoy watercolour painting? It’s such a wonderfully soft and expressive medium, quite delicate; but dynamic. Then this relaxed, eight week class, could be just for you. As you complete your personal watercolour paintings, by a process of mentorship, your tutor, a master of fine art, will show you basic techniques and skills. So, after spending just eight weeks, you will attain the confidence to paint pictures you will be proud to show your family and friends, as well as having a brand new means of artistic expression at your fingertips. Please note this class is suitable for people who have not previously completed a Watercolour class with John Wells.

• Introductory day is for you to learn the very fundamentals of the art of painting in watercolour.
• Firstly we’ll check that you’ve the correct equipment which has been communicated to you by means of a materials list. At this point you’ll have been provided with a hints and tips fact sheet outlining the basic requirements and the minimal do’s and don’ts about the medium.
• Next you’ll begin creating a colour chart using the colour range you’ve been required to provide. Here you’ll begin learning the dilution techniques, ie how much or how little water you add to create a colour.
• Once you’ve completed your colour chart, you’ll be required to begin painting four separate Sea Scapes on one sheet of A4 watercolour paper. Your tutor will demonstrate on the white board how to progressively create these pictures, describing processes along the way such as ‘colour washes’, ‘sky washes’, and ‘wet in wet’. At this point you’ll also begin to experience the art of mixing colours.
• On completion of these four sea scapes it’s believed by your tutor that you’ll have gained all the necessary skills and techniques to confidently begin to paint a picture of your own, and therefore no longer are you a beginner, but an intermediate, ready to meet the challenges your tutor sets you during the remainder of the term.

Please Bring

• Materials Drawing Board: A little larger than A4
• Brushes: Medium size soft wash brush, and three round, soft brushes size 2, 4 & 6Sponges:
• Small natural sea sponge
• Pencils and Rulers: HB or H pencil and an ordinary rulerRubber:
• Hard white Staedler rubber
• Masking Tape (artist quality)
• Water Container: Jam jar or equivalent

Mixing Dishes:

• An ordinary large white china plate
• Masking Fluid:
• Watercolour masking fluid
• Paints

Either tubes or pans (ie paint box pans) of the following watercolour paints:

• Reds: Cadmium Red & Alizarin Crimson
• Yellows: Cadmium Yellow, Lemon & Yellow Ochre
• Greens: Hookers, Sap & Viridian
• Blues: Cerulean, Ultramarine & Cobalt
• Browns: Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber & Raw Sienna
  Note: Black and white watercolour paints are not needed.

Paper

• Canson, 300gm watercolour pad, medium texture, size A4

Please Note: NBMC is not liable to for any loss incurred if a class is cancelled please check with the college by calling 02) 9970 1000 or emailing enquiries@nbmc.nsw.edu.au before purchasing materials.

About the tutor

John Wells has a Foundation and Pre Diploma from the Rochester College of Art, a Diploma in Art and Design (First Class Honours) from Brighton College of Art and Design and a Master of Fine Art Degree from Reading University. John is a professional artist, and produces murals and works in trompe l’oeil for clients as diverse as Meriton Apartments and Fox Studios. John has extensive teaching experience in the adult education sector.