Exploring Modern Watercolour Techniques (Spr23)

This course is open to all.

The focus of this course is experimenting with some modern methods of watercolour painting using a variety of subjects, materials, photographs and internet images.
You will learn to develop a more abstract approach using textural methods including lifting out sponging, dripping, printing, cling film, collage and oil pastel resists.

TUTOR: Bob Meecham

STRUCTURE

Week 1: Getting to know Materials, Sponging, dribble, drip and wet in wet meanders – abstract
Week 2: Resists, lifting out and masking – plants and landscape
Week 3: Consolidation, continue with Resists, lifting out and masking
Week 4: Ink, white gouache/acrylic – Landscape, buildings
Week 5: Consolidation – Using above techniques to develop individually. Tutor demo
Week 6: Making templates using found objects – Abstract
Week 7: Cezanne and impressionist technique – Trees and pathway
Week 8: Printing, sponging and scraffito – cliffs rocks and the sea

CORE SKILLS

• Composing and designing from basic forms from abstract, landscape to natural forms
• Lots of practice in applying watercolour using a variety of techniques, and combining with other materials and media
• Experiment with various textures and surfaces to produce a range of different studies and styles with a contemporary slant

MATERIALS LIST

• Set of watercolour brushes including a large wash brush, simple palette (white plastic or ceramic plates are ideal), glass jars, kitchen paper roll or tissues.
• You will need several sheets of 300gsm weight watercolour papers Bockingford or other (or a watercolour pad of similar weight paper) and practice paper ( sketchbook or similar)
• Watercolours of reasonable artist or student quality: Suggested colours are ultramarine blue, cerulean or cyan blue, light red, scarlet lake, permanent rose, cadmium yellow pale, burnt umber, viridian and indigo.
• Black pen (Edding or Pilot drawing pen or biro)
• Tube of white gouache or acrylic paint, masking tape, sponge, tissues, scissors and ruler
• PVA glue and old newspapers
• Cling film, tracing paper, toned grey paper ( not essential, there will be some available)
• A small box of oil or wax pastels ( not essential, there will be some available)
• Other unusual materials will be available to try when needed

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8 weeks from 19 January 2023

Dates: 19, 26 Jan & 2, 9, 23 Feb & 2, 9, 16 Mar