Paint and Pencils, Gold Coast, August
PAINT and PENCILS – Combining watercolours and colour pencils for a range of subjects.
Saturday August 13
9:00am - 4:00pm
122 Brisbane Rd, Labrador, Gold Coast.
Air-conditioned studio with no steps. Kitchen and bathroom in the same building. Parking directly outside.
Watercolours and colour pencils are a perfect match. This workshop will explore how to use them together in individual ways, while working with a variety of different subjects and styles. “Failed’ watercolour paintings can be improved with the addition of pencils or they can be used simultaneously as a mixed-media artwork. Be surprised by the range of surfaces compatible with using these mediums together.
Techniques with aquarelle (water-soluble colour pencils) will also be covered. It’s quite rare to find workshops with these pencils, but students will learn many tips on how to get professional results.
Some basic experience with watercolour is essential, but newcomers to colour pencil art are welcome.
What to bring:
Paints –Bring a range of professional quality watercolours in your preferred brand.
Paper –You will require 300gsm Cold Pressed watercolour paper in Medium or Hot Pressed. My recommendation is to buy a watercolour block as the paper is already stretched. ¼ or ½ sheet size is fine. Quality brands are Arches or Saunders Waterford. Student quality paper just doesn’t work well. Make sure the paper is 100% Cotton.
Brushes - Bring whatever watercolour brushes you already own, but include at least two ‘rounds’ with a sharp point (one small and one larger), plus a larger ‘mop’ brush for backgrounds. Just make sure they are designated watercolour brushes and not long handle acrylic brushes.
Palette – The large plastic palettes with lots of wells and a lid are my recommendation. Make sure it has a large enough mixing area. Board –Larger than your paper and something to prop up under one end for working at an angle.
Other Necessities – Drawing equipment (pencils, eraser, ruler etc, plus pen and paper for taking notes), 1 sheet of graphite transfer paper (not carbon paper), an old towel or hand towel, tissues, 2 plastic containers for water, and masking tape. A medicine dropper or plastic pipette.
Colour Pencil supplies: Pencils - Bring as large a range as possible of either aquarelle (water soluble pencils), or other non-aquarelle pencils if you already own them. Suggested aquarelle brands are Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils, or Caran D’Ache Supracolor or Prismacolor Premier Watercolor or Cretacolor Aqua Monolith. Other non-aquarelle choices are Prismacolor, Faber-Castell Polychromos, Derwent Coloursoft and any other professional brand. If you have a large selection of pencils that are water-soluble, you can use them for all ‘dry’ techniques and won’t need to purchase the other non-aquarelle type.
Jan will bring 3 desk sharpeners or bring your own. New soft- bristle brush – 2” wide or larger. For brushing away pencil crumbs. This is to be kept separate from your watercolour brushes. Eraser –Battery operated ones are available by Derwent, Kent, or Mont Marte from some discount stores. Jan will bring some to share. A ‘dud’ photograph or transparency or acetate sheet - For using under your drawing hand to prevent smudging your work.
References: Jan will supply references for group studies but you are welcome to bring any copyright-free images of your choosing for personal projects. Feel free to bring a finished watercolour painting that could be improved with the addition of colour pencil!
Morning and afternoon tea is complimentary, BYO lunch. (Refrigerator & microwave available.) Restaurants directly across the road.