Workshops

The Basics of Watercolor Painting

Workshop Description: Basic Watercolor is a six weeks class for those who have never used watercolors but would like to try the medium and those who have used watercolors and just want to refresh their skills. It is intended to impart an understanding and application of the fundamentals in the use of watercolors. It includes presentations, discussions, and hands-on exercises in the following areas: Painting Surfaces, Types of Brushes and Brush Effects, Stretching the Paper, Watercolor Pigments, Watercolor Washes, Blending Colors, Removing Color, Watercolor Painting Methods, and Special Effects

Materials Provided by Participant: For the 1st class, bring a set of tube watercolors (do not buy sets or tubes labeled tints), and several watercolor brushes in various sizes, a water container, paper towels, pencil, and eraser.

Materials Provided by Instructor: watercolorpaper and needed instruction sheets

Contact Information: for questions or registration, email rnelson33@rochester.rr.com.

Colored Pencil Basics

Workshop Description: This workshop focuses on the various techniques used to blend colored pencil strokes (including linear stroke, overlaying colors, scumbling, impressing, glazing, burnishing, colorless blending pencils) used to create interesting landscapes in any style.  Please note that that the 2^nd class builds on the 1st.

Materials Provided by the Participant: drawing paper or pad, set of colored pencils including white, grey, and black (Prismacolor brand recommended), eraser, pencil sharpener, and a colorless blending pencil.

Materials Provided by the Instructor: information packets and photos that can be used for inspiration.

Contact: register by contracting the instructor at rnelson33@rochester.rr.com  

Contact information: register by contacting the instructor at rnelson33@rochester.rr.com.

Charcoal Still Life Drawing

Workshop Description: Charcoal is fired willow, vine, or other twigs at high temperatures in air-tight containers and come in three grades; soft, medium, and hard. It is applied using various drawing techniques but is much softer and darker than pencils. Different values are created by using different grades and by the amount of pressure applied.

Materials Provided by the Participant: set of charcoal pencils in 3 grades: soft, medium, and hard, drawing paper or pad at least 11”x14”, soft eraser or kneaded eraser, and a regular pencil.

Materials Provided by the Instructor: information sheets, blenders, still life images

Contact Information: for information or to register email the instructor at rnelson33@rochester.rr.com

Oil Pastel Landscape

Workshop Description: Oil pastels are soft oil based sticks that can be easily blended with swabs, tortillons, fingers, and Baby Oil to create realistic works resembling oil paintings. They can be worked from light to dark or dark to light. The focus of the class will be using various drawing and blending techniques to create textures and three-dimensional form.

Materials Provided by Participant: set of oil pastels, a regular pencil, and an eraser. If desired, bring photos of landscapes.

Materials Provided by Instructor: various papers, swabs, information sheets

Contact Information: for information or to register email the instructor at rnelson33@rochester.rr.com

Wax Resist Painting

Workshop Description: Resist Painting is a method of applying wax to various parts of the picture so that the applied water-based paint will not adhere to those areas. Many interesting effects and textures can be created by using rubbings or various drawing techniques. It is similar to the batik process except that is done on paper instead of fabric.

Materials Provided by Participant: box of crayons, watercolor paper 140lb. weight (at least 9”x12”), watercolor brushes, water container, a hard surface (like plexi-glass or wood) larger than the watercolor paper size, pencil, eraser, paper towels, and a photo to reproduce, if desired.

Materials Provided by Instructor: an iron, drawing paper, tracing paper, and a blow-dryer.

Contact Information: for information or to register email the instructor at rnelson33@rochester.rr.com

Colored Pencil Basics

Workshop Description: This four week class focuses on the various layering and shading methods used to blend colored pencil strokes (including linear stroke, overlaying colors, scumbling, impressing, glazing, burnishing, colorless blending pencils), removing, wax build-up, and various finishing methods. Please note that each class builds upon the previous one.

Materials Provided by Participant: drawing paper or pad, set of colored pencils including white, grey, and black (Prismacolor brand recommended), eraser, pencil sharpener, and a colorless blending pencil.

Materials Provided by Instructor: information packets and photos that can be used for inspiration.

Contact Information: for information or to register email the instructor at rnelson33@rochester.rr.com

Autumn Landscape in Watercolor

Workshop Description: Fall colors are an inspiration for landscape painting. Learn the basics of painting autumn landscapes by applying various composition principles, watercolor techniques, and types of landscape compositions to create colorful fall scenes.

Materials Provided by Participant: watercolors  paints (if using tube paints, do not use paints that say tints), brushes, 140lb. watercolor paper, board larger than the paper size for stretching the paper, tape, paper towels, water container, and a photo of scene to be painted.

Materials Provided by Instructor:  Information sheets and landscape photos

Contact Information: for information or to register email the instructor at rnelson33@rochester.rr.com