Betsey MacDonald: Natural Flow - 4 Week Watercolor class (All Levels Welcome!)

Description:

Rembrandt said, “Choose only one master, NATURE.”

In this class, we will use natural forms as our muse to create beautiful watercolors. Natural forms reflect every color in the visible spectrum from pomegranate red and dandelion yellow, to the deepest almost black eggplant violet and every color in between. Earth colors or neutrals are abundant as are different organic shapes and textures. Think of the beauty and diversity of mushrooms alone! Plus, natural forms in every size, shape and color are easily found and can sit on tables right in front of us.

We will use watercolor to add to our appreciation of the natural world. At the same time, we’ll learn more about color mixing and improve our painting skills. We’ll experiment with wet into wet technique, dry brush, layering, using resists and even a bit of spattering and dripping. Nature provides endless forms of inspiration, all of which will help us gain confidence in our painting and allow us to share our interpretations of the beauty of the natural world through our art.

Objectives:

• Learn to better “see” by painting from life
• Practice mixing perfect colors and more vibrant neutrals
• Creatively paint natural objects by selectively using a mix of techniques
• Become comfortable experimenting with watercolor
• Learn to accept and use watercolor “accidents”
• Improve skills with watercolor techniques like wet into wet, drybrush, masking and layering
• Observe, critique and discuss student work and master watercolors
• Connect to and appreciate the complexity and beauty of the natural world

Materials student will need to provide: watercolor set(an inexpensive tray is fine but a set of tubes with palette is great, too), variety of brushes, masking fluid, watercolor block or pad(at least 140 lb, at least 9 x 12 or larger) or a few sheets with a gator foam board for stapling or some other support or 300 lb paper which doesn’t need mounting , hot or cold press or even rough can work, jar or two for water, spray bottle, sponge, #2 pencil or mechanical pencil, fine point sharpie.

Materials provided by instructor: A wide variety of natural objects, some papers to try, resists, a variety of brushes, sponges, spray bottles, paper towels

Betsey MacDonald Bio