Watercolour: Beginners Weekend Workshop

Have you ever wanted to explore the beautiful, fluid world of watercolour painting? Known for its soft, delicate transparency and dynamic blending, watercolour is one of the most expressive mediums in art.

If you are looking for a relaxed, hands-on weekend watercolour course, this intensive two-day workshop is the perfect place to start.

Led by a Master of Fine Art, you will be guided step-by-step through foundational watercolour painting techniques and essential skills. Over just one weekend, you will build the skill and confidence needed to paint beautiful pieces you’ll be proud to showcase to family and friends.

• Duration: 2 Days (Weekend Workshop)
• Skill Level: Beginners welcome – no prior painting experience required.

What to Bring: Material List

To get the most out of your weekend, please bring the following materials with you.

Important Material Notice: We strongly recommend waiting until one week prior to the scheduled weekend to purchase your materials. NBMC is not liable for costs incurred for materials if a class is cancelled. Please confirm the class status by calling (02) 9970 1000 or emailing enquiries@nbmc.nsw.edu.au before buying supplies.

• Paper: Canson 300gsm watercolour pad (medium texture, size A4).
• Drawing Board: Slightly larger than A4.
• Brushes: 1 medium-sized soft wash brush; 3 round, soft brushes (sizes 2, 4, and 6).
• Paints (Tubes or Pans):
  • Reds: Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson
  • Yellows: Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Ochre
  • Greens: Hooker’s Green, Sap Green, Viridian
  • Blues: Cerulean, Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue
  • Browns: Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Raw Sienna
  • (Note: Black and white paints are not required).
• Studio Tools: Artist-quality masking tape, watercolour masking fluid, an ordinary large white china plate (for mixing), a small natural sea sponge, a jam jar (for water), an HB or H pencil, a standard ruler, and a hard white Staedtler eraser.

Inspiration for Your Artwork

During the workshop, you will paint from reference photos. Please bring along a selection of your favourite photographs to use as subject matter, such as:

• Animals, birds, or beloved pets
• Portraits of family members or friends
• Landscape photos of a favourite holiday destination
• A still life arrangement or detailed flower study

Meet Your Instructor: John Wells (MFA)

Learn from a highly credentialed, professional artist with a wealth of experience in adult education.

John Wells holds a Foundation and Pre-Diploma from the Rochester College of Art, a Diploma in Art and Design (First Class Honours) from the Brighton College of Art and Design, and a Master of Fine Art Degree from Reading University.

As a practicing commercial artist, John specialises in large-scale murals and intricate trompe l’oeil work, with a high-profile client portfolio that includes Meriton Apartments and Fox Studios. His structured, encouraging teaching style makes complex artistic techniques accessible to every student.

This course is delivered over one weekend.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• recognise the complexity of watercolour painting
• recognise the nuances of colour and colour mixing
• identify where light and contrast are seen in painting
• employ some of the various watercolour painting techniques available
• see and relate to painting form in its many guises
• obtain confidence in the knowledge that you are now able to paint almost any subject.

This course covers the following topics:

• Colour identification
• Colour mixing and application
• Composition and subject matter
• Intended audience

Suitable for anyone new to art or with some previous experience.
Everyone will begin to learn on the same footing – from the fundamentals.