New for Autumn 2024!

Mondays 2.15- 4.30pm (8 sessions)

September 30; October 14, 21; November 4, 11, 18, 25; Dec 2

Venue: Nottingham Society of Artists, 71 Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6DH

Fee: £160. Booking in advance is essential* 

In this instructive 8 week course you will learn the basic materials, techniques and craft of watercolour painting. You will develop an exciting, loose, impressionist style of watercolour painting and be able to explore different light effects.

Some previous drawing experience would be useful but is not essential. 

Topics will include: Brush and water control, understanding tones, colour choices and how to mix them, drawing and composition skills, painting successfully from photographs.

This course is suitable for complete beginners and improvers wanting to refresh their skills. Some experience of drawing and painting is useful, but not essential. Each session will include demonstrations, hands-on practice, and constructive feedback to help you progress.

By the end of the course you will have gained an understanding of:

• Preparing for painting: learning about watercolour papers, brushes, properties, and behaviours of paint (transparency and consistencies) and creating colour swatches.
• Colour theory and colour mixing: creating a colour wheel and understanding colour schemes for paintings.
• Watercolour techniques: washes, glazes, wet in wet, dry brush, glazing, etc.
• Elements of composition & perspective: using focal points using rule of thirds, perspective, depth & dimension.
• Creating abstracted landscape paintings: painting with loose washes and bold colours to represent stylized scenery.
• Creating studies: using wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, dry brush and other techniques to capture light effects, textures, mood and atmosphere

You will need:

• a pencil
• a putty rubber
• a selection of different paintbrushes – flat brushes & round tipped brushes in different sizes.
• approx A4 sized watercolour paper 140lbs/300gsm (The Range, Wilko, Hobbycraft)
• watercolour paints – such as Winsor & Newton, Cotman, (The Range, Hobbycraft,)
• water pot
• a palette with wells (The Works, The Range)
• paper towel
• masking tape (The Works, The Range, Hobbycraft)

*Booking conditions: Allocation will take place on a first come first served basis, subject to receipt of full non- transferable and non-refundable payment. Nottingham Art Studio reserves the right to withdraw the course. In this eventuality, you will be notified and fully refunded. No refunds can be given for any sessions not attended.