Semester 2 (typically during the last six months of the year)
It is recommended that you review the suggested links before class
Suggested ongoing theme for this semester will be: USING YOUR SKETCHBOOK'
It is recommended that you review the suggested links before class
Suggested ongoing theme for this semester will be: USING YOUR SKETCHBOOK'
- Weekly Activities
Week 1
Link to You Tube Video:
Paul Clark:
How to improve your paintings by understanding tonal values & contrast-
A step-by-step watercolour guide on how to improve your paintings by understanding tonal values & contrast including 4 monochromatic painting demonstrations.
Free downloadable drawing templates available from website.
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
Watch an inspiring video (27mins)
Behind The Scenes : The Norman Cornish Sketchbooks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImuN0p5wViE
Upon his death in 2014, Cornish left almost 300 unseen sketchbooks. He suggested ‘they should be available for the public to view, to teach people to look at things’. By prolifically sketching bar scenes, street scenes and men at work in the pit, Cornish recorded a fascinating slice of County Durham life.
Presented by Mike Thornton - son-in-law of Norman Cornish - deliver this talk.
Link to You Tube Video:
Paul Clark:
How to improve your paintings by understanding tonal values & contrast-
A step-by-step watercolour guide on how to improve your paintings by understanding tonal values & contrast including 4 monochromatic painting demonstrations.
Free downloadable drawing templates available from website.
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
- Colour and Tonal Values
- The use of sketchbooks Read this article Sketchbooks
Watch an inspiring video (27mins)
Behind The Scenes : The Norman Cornish Sketchbooks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImuN0p5wViE
Upon his death in 2014, Cornish left almost 300 unseen sketchbooks. He suggested ‘they should be available for the public to view, to teach people to look at things’. By prolifically sketching bar scenes, street scenes and men at work in the pit, Cornish recorded a fascinating slice of County Durham life.
Presented by Mike Thornton - son-in-law of Norman Cornish - deliver this talk.
Week 2
Link to You Tube Video:
Liz Chaderton
An Introduction to Line and Wash: Which comes first pen or wash?
duration: 14 min
Also part of an article on Pen & Ink here
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
Link to You Tube Video:
Liz Chaderton
An Introduction to Line and Wash: Which comes first pen or wash?
duration: 14 min
Also part of an article on Pen & Ink here
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
- Explore Pen and Ink
Week 3
Watercolour Tips for Beginners.
..........read this article by John Lovett
John Lovett is an Australian artist working in oils, watercolour and mixed media.
Over the coming weeks, perhaps check out some of his lessons for yourself here
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
Watercolour Tips for Beginners.
..........read this article by John Lovett
John Lovett is an Australian artist working in oils, watercolour and mixed media.
Over the coming weeks, perhaps check out some of his lessons for yourself here
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
- Bring in your unfinished works/failures/ - We will explore what can be done with them.
Week 4
Link(s): Paul Clark -
Negative Painting Techniques in Watercolour (18min video)
Using Masking Fluid
How to Paint Sail boats on a Lake - and introducing Naples Yellow
Read this interesting article on the colour orange: here
Link(s): Paul Clark -
Negative Painting Techniques in Watercolour (18min video)
Using Masking Fluid
How to Paint Sail boats on a Lake - and introducing Naples Yellow
Read this interesting article on the colour orange: here
- Negative Painting Technique
- The Positive Energy of Orange
Something to think about:
A useful image for a tonal study, and also for looking at any drawing problems you may. Drawing will be a topic in a few weeks time.
A useful image for a tonal study, and also for looking at any drawing problems you may. Drawing will be a topic in a few weeks time.
Week 5
You Tube Link:
Kateri Ewing
Limitless Palette: Mixing Greens with Watercolour
(Mix just about any green you could ever need with just six colours)
Read "A Basic Colour Palette" here
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
You Tube Link:
Kateri Ewing
Limitless Palette: Mixing Greens with Watercolour
(Mix just about any green you could ever need with just six colours)
Read "A Basic Colour Palette" here
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
- COLOUR MIXING
- Make a grid and mix as many greens as you can (view Kateri Ewing's video first)
Week 6
Link to you tube video:
Limitless Palette: The Watercolour Set
Kateri Ewing
How to select your core, split-primary limited palette from a set of watercolours you already own.
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
Link to you tube video:
Limitless Palette: The Watercolour Set
Kateri Ewing
How to select your core, split-primary limited palette from a set of watercolours you already own.
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
- MORE COLOUR MIXING
- CLASS DEMO: Water Colour Washes
- OR.... Check out the index and You Tube Links to re-visit any topics that interest you
Week 7
Link to you tube video:
Steven Travers ART "Drawing Still Life Eye Level"
Read articles on these pages:
Perspective and Drawing for Watercolour
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
Link to you tube video:
Steven Travers ART "Drawing Still Life Eye Level"
Read articles on these pages:
Perspective and Drawing for Watercolour
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
- PERSPECTIVE - HIGH EYE LEVEL
Week 8
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
FIVE BASIC COMPONENT SKILLS OF DRAWING
1) Seeing and drawing edges (sometimes called “contour drawing”)
2) Seeing and drawing spaces (called “negative spaces”)
3) Seeing and drawing relationships (called “perspective and proportion”)
4) Seeing and drawing lights and shadows (called “shading”)
5) Seeing and drawing the whole (called the gestalt, the “thing itself,” the essential nature of the observed subject, which emerges spontaneously from the first four component skills).
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
- How can improving your drawing ability can help your watercolours?
FIVE BASIC COMPONENT SKILLS OF DRAWING
1) Seeing and drawing edges (sometimes called “contour drawing”)
2) Seeing and drawing spaces (called “negative spaces”)
3) Seeing and drawing relationships (called “perspective and proportion”)
4) Seeing and drawing lights and shadows (called “shading”)
5) Seeing and drawing the whole (called the gestalt, the “thing itself,” the essential nature of the observed subject, which emerges spontaneously from the first four component skills).
Week 9
Links to You Tube Videos:
Choose from the many floral youtube demonstrations by Jude Scott -
Bird of Paradise
Cyclamens
Florals Abstract
Lavender
ROSES:
Roses in Watercolour
Contemporary Roses
White Roses
Sunflowers
Sweet Peas
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
Links to You Tube Videos:
Choose from the many floral youtube demonstrations by Jude Scott -
Bird of Paradise
Cyclamens
Florals Abstract
Lavender
ROSES:
Roses in Watercolour
Contemporary Roses
White Roses
Sunflowers
Sweet Peas
TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK:
Week 10 - Read this article, and think about trying some experiments (listed below)
Interesting short article Nourish the Artist Within - Making Magic with Watercolor
The biggest roadblock to creative success that Jenna Rainey sees has to do with mindset. “Creativity is an act of expression, and expressing yourself takes courage,” she says. “We get in our own way 99% of the time. I see students struggle with perfectionism and fear of failure, or just being overly critical of their art. Every artist struggles with these intrusive thoughts at times, which causes a fear of starting and also limits artistic growth because you get stuck in what you’re comfortable doing.” Here are some of the artist’s recommendations for breaking down these barriers and nourishing the artist within.
LET'S EXPERIMENT WITH A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES TO PRODUCE INTERESTING TEXTURE IN YOUR PAINTINGS.
Let's Experiment with:
wax
salt
tissue
plastic card
splatter
brush
masking fluid
cling wrap
pipettes
Gum Arabic
Here are two videos by Paul Clark:
5 simple techniques for painting Rocks in Watercolour
5 simple techniques for painting Walls in Watercolour
THE REMAINING WEEKS OF TERM - YOUR CHOICE
Paint a Portrait in Watercolour (mapping and plumbing!)
Figurative Work in Watercolour
Interesting short article Nourish the Artist Within - Making Magic with Watercolor
The biggest roadblock to creative success that Jenna Rainey sees has to do with mindset. “Creativity is an act of expression, and expressing yourself takes courage,” she says. “We get in our own way 99% of the time. I see students struggle with perfectionism and fear of failure, or just being overly critical of their art. Every artist struggles with these intrusive thoughts at times, which causes a fear of starting and also limits artistic growth because you get stuck in what you’re comfortable doing.” Here are some of the artist’s recommendations for breaking down these barriers and nourishing the artist within.
- Find Your Flow. Try an automatic writing exercise. “It’s a simple practice that works even if you’re not a huge fan of journaling. “It’s just a matter of writing for as little as a few minutes and letting the words flow out of you. With no judgment. The process of writing helps develop and strengthen those parts of the brain that are similar to the ‘flow state’ when we’re painting or creating.”
- Make Space for Art to Happen. “We create our best work when we become deeply involved in the task at hand. ” “If you’re excited to paint but are constrained by an environment of clutter (mental and physical), this becomes a distraction. To remove barriers that might trigger excuses, like ‘I don’t have the time to create,’ and other critical mind interruptions, you should always have a clean workspace that’s ready to welcome you whenever inspiration strikes!”
- Bring on the Good Vibes. Sometimes you might feel like your creative efforts are still coming up short. “When that happens, go for a walk and get out into nature. Or, just put on a really good playlist.”
- Keep it Fun! “Any time you sense resistance, that’s your mind’s effort to restrict flow.” “Do some doodling or try playing with watercolour. Having time dedicated to play and not always being so serious with your practice is incredibly important for growth.”
LET'S EXPERIMENT WITH A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES TO PRODUCE INTERESTING TEXTURE IN YOUR PAINTINGS.
Let's Experiment with:
wax
salt
tissue
plastic card
splatter
brush
masking fluid
cling wrap
pipettes
Gum Arabic
Here are two videos by Paul Clark:
5 simple techniques for painting Rocks in Watercolour
5 simple techniques for painting Walls in Watercolour
THE REMAINING WEEKS OF TERM - YOUR CHOICE
- a time to plan your masterpiece?
- play with colour - card making -
- review your Watercolour folder started at the beginning of the year
- pick the tutor's brain
- what else?
- Mapping and Plumbing? Portraiture/animals/drawing skills (draw what you SEE not what you know)?
Paint a Portrait in Watercolour (mapping and plumbing!)
Figurative Work in Watercolour
LAST CLASS FOR THE YEAR:
Shall we bring in:
A series of youtube videos with Oliver Pyle on painting amazing skies here - much to learn in your own time.
In class I will have a short activity to introduce you to the idea of ABSTRACT painting.
Instructions from last year are here so you can have a go during class or in the holidays
Shall we bring in:
- Something for a Chrissy lunch - bring what you like and your own cup/glass/plate to cut down on washing up after our lunch.
- A Secret Santa gift (if you want to participate being in an item (purchases or re-gifted etc). If buying an item do not invest more than $10, if upgifting 'no restriction on value!'
A series of youtube videos with Oliver Pyle on painting amazing skies here - much to learn in your own time.
In class I will have a short activity to introduce you to the idea of ABSTRACT painting.
Instructions from last year are here so you can have a go during class or in the holidays