Classes

A Popular Watercolor Teacher 

Classes -York Art Association morning 9 – 12 or afternoon 12:30 – 3:30 starting again mid March 2012 – eight weeks

Workshops – For workshops or private lessons, email  deb@debwatson.org

The Door PDF  – Written Instructions For Video

My Favorite Class Demo from 2010

More pdfs with watercolor painting information:

• Information on Brushes and Things To Paint With
• Painting Seashell Lesson PDF

My Watercolor Painting Info

My Palette – Perylene Green (Winsor Newton), Joe’s Blue (American Journey), Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Red or Permanent Rose, Raw Sienna, Aureolin Yellow, Quinacridone Gold, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber Violet (American Journey), and Cobalt Turquoise Light. I make my own black by mixing Joe’s Blue and Raw Umber Violet.

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My Brushes -  Silver Black Velvet ¾” oval wash brush, hake brush, size 6 Sceptre Gold II brush, level lifting brush or old stiff acrylic brush cut off, toothbrush, 2″ Hake brush for washes.

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My Painting Surfaces – I use Arches paper, 140 or 300 lb. cold pressed natural white, or Kilamanjaro paper by Cheap Joe.  I often stretch my paper onto canvas stretcher bars and spray it with Golden spray varnish when finished so it can be framed without glass or mat.

Helpful Tips For Happy Painting – Think Twice, Paint Once

• Plan your values and colors ahead of time.  Just spend ten minutes and make your own roadmap to success by doing a value sketch and color study.
• Think about how to apply the paint with the fewest brushstrokes.  Pretend each brushstroke costs $100 and learn to use BIG WASHES to cover areas, with brushstrokes only where they make the most impact.  Use your spray bottle or gravity to move paint around, not your brushes.  Paint outside the lines, color and value first, detail last.
• For realism, study your subject.  Note everything – the contour of the lines, the highlights, the shadows, the reflected light, the textures and the hard and soft edges.
• Practice techniques fearlessly.  Try something three times in a row to give you a feel for the technique.  Then teach it.
• Join a painting or critique group.  If you’re housebound, join an online critique group, or form your own.  Share and care.
• Immerse yourself in whatever you consider good art.  Go to exhibits, buy books or videos, buy original art and hang it in a place you’ll see it often.  You won’t learn by osmosis, but your subconscious will soak in many valuable lessons.  Encourage yourself.

Happy painting!        Deb Watson    email:deb@debwatson.org

Free How To Paint Videos:  www.youtube.com/debiwatsonwatercolor

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Painting Seashells

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