2010 Watercolor Workshops with Gwendolyn Evans
June 8 - 12, 2010
October 5 - 9, 2010
Simplify the Process: See, Compose, Draw, Paint
This workshop will be a delightful, informative, and growing experience! To reserve your place please send a $400 deposit to Shawnee Falls Studio, P.O. Box 51, Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA, 18356-0051 along with registration form.
I. MATERIALS
Artist’s Grade Winsor Newton Watercolor Paints: These are the best. Anything less will not produce the same results. I teach a limited palette so that the student learns to mix colors and so that the cost of purchasing tubes of paint is moderate, but feel free to add any favorites to this list:
• Alizarin Crimson
• Cadmium Red
• Winsor Yellow or Cadmium Yellow or Aureolian
• Naples Yellow (optional)
• French Ultramarine Blue
• Cerulean Blue
• Burnt Sienna
Brushes:
• # 8 or #10 round—one of these is essential
• ¾” or 1” flat—one of these is essential
• 2” wash brush
• # 12, #14 on through #30—I encourage you to use big brushes! The larger your paper, the larger your brushes should be. If you work on quarter sheets as a beginner, #10 will be fine; as you graduate to half sheets and then whole sheets increase your brush sizes.
Palette: Your choice; just be sure you have a large center mixing area with room for small paint sections surrounding; some options on the market are: John Pike Palette with lid; enamel butcher tray; plastic with large middle area; and the metal folding Holbein palette.
Paper: D’Arches cold press is best for starting. I recommend 140 lb; 300 lb. is much more expensive and you may wish to try it later. “Hot press” is also a later option as is “rough”. I will explain the various papers and their characteristics in class. Fabriano is another good brand. Some students like watercolor blocks, rather than single sheets (which you will learn how to stretch if you don’t already know; working on stretched paper is my favorite—for which you will need the board mentioned next).
Other Optional Supplies:
• A board at least 1” larger around than your paper—thin untreated plywood or luann.
• Sponge—natural, small
• Clamps or clips
• plastic water container (cut down milk jug or large juice container works fine)
• paper towels and tissue
• glue tape (used in stretching paper) and masking tape
• pencil, eraser, straight edge
• single-edge razor blade
• mastic (use with reservation)
• blotter, old cut-up credit card, plastic wrap, table salt, etc.—all of which I will have here for your experimentation.
II. SOME WORKSHOP TOPICS
• The importance of selecting the right materials
• Selecting subject matter
• Stretching paper
• Seeing
• Elements and Principles of Design
• Composition and Drawing
• Color palette and mixing paints
• Washes, dry brush and other essential techniques
• The importance of values
• Creating textures
• Correcting problems
• Working from still life, photo, and on location
• Useful books on watercolor painting
• How to honestly evaluate your own work and the work of others
• Exhibiting
III. SCHEDULE
TUESDAY
Check-in between 4 and 6 PM. Reception in studio at 6. Dinner in dining room at 7, followed by tour of historic home/gallery and powerpoint presentation on SEEING.
WEDNESDAY
10:00-11:00 Schedule, hand-outs, etc. SEEING exercises.
11:00-12:30 COMPOSITION/DRAWING instruction w/ demo; students draw.
12:30-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-2:00 Stretching paper demo; advanced students scout out plein air subject matter.
2:00-3:30 Color Mixing and Color Recipes
3:30-4:00 Students scout out plein air subject matter and begin drawings, composition studies for tomorrow’s watercolor w/ Gwendolyn’s guidance as needed.
4:00-8:00 Open studio for students who wish to work on their own.
THURSDAY
10:00-10:45 Critique of yesterday’s work. Time to tweak drawings following comments.
10:45-11:00 Brief demo on preliminary plein air drawing for watercolor painting.
11:00-11:30 Students work on composition/drawing for plein air painting.
11:30-12:30 Demo on plein air painting by Gwendolyn.
12:30-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-4:00 Students begin plein air watercolor painting w/individual instruction.
4:00-8:00 Open studio for students who wish to paint from still life.
FRIDAY
10:00-11:00 Critique of yesterday’s paintings.
11:00-11:30 Demo on painting techniques, handling problems.
11:30-12:30 Students do second piece or finish first w/ individual instruction as needed.
12:30-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-4:00 Painting with individual instruction as needed.
SATURDAY
10:00-10:30 Critique of yesterday’s work.
10:30-12:30 Students paint w/individual instruction as needed.
12:30-1:30 Lunch Break
1:30-3:30 Second plein air painting completed.
3:30-4:00 Final Critique of all work.
6:00-7:00 Farewell Dinner
7:00-8:00 Entertainment on the deck with Bill Caldwell, Moravian historian/guitarist.
SUNDAY
9:00-11:00 Late Breakfast on deck w/final written individual evalutaions/suggestions for growth; questions and answers on exhibiting, etc. Gwendolyn’s instructional DVD and demo workshop paintings for sale. Group photo. Exchange of addresses. Departure.
The workshop cost of $785 includes a welcoming gourmet dinner, five daily 4-course breakfasts beautifully presented in the dining room or on the deck, and guestroom accommodation (sometimes shared with another student, depending on number registered—though attempts are made to offer each student who wishes it, a private room). Your non-refundable deposit of $400 must accompany your registration to reserve a place in the workshop, and the remainder of $385 is due upon arrival (personal checks made out to Shawnee Falls Studio or cash, please; credit cards are not accepted).
Please note that Shawnee Falls Studio, Gallery & Guesthouse is a smoke-free environment both inside and out; a friendly Bernese Mountain Dog and a cat live on the premises; credit cards are not accepted; our facility does not accommodate those who find exterior stone stairs and winding interior stairs difficult.
Download the registration form (PDF file)
