Beginning watercolor AT SUMMERFIELD

This page is a resource for Summerfield students with information on the class, materials, projects, and more. (Space available in the Morning Session only at this time.)

Would you like to learn how to paint with watercolors?

FOURTH MONDAYS!

Starting in 2025, we will begin a series of classes which will take place on the 4th Monday of every month starting in February in which we begin to learn the basics of watercolor painting. We will cover the important foundational skills and ideas to develop your artistry. (More on that below.) In January we had a free class/demo and I appreciate all the people who turned out to see it and get to know me a little. We talked about supplies and will do more of that on our first official class in February. There are lots of options for how to be ready for class.

HOW WE DO IT.

Classes are held at the Summerfield Art Studio in the Morning (from 9 am to Noon) and in the Afternoon (from 1 pm to 4 pm.) Each session is $35. The Afternoon has reached its maximum enrollment level, but there are still a few spaces in the Morning session.

You are encouraged to bring your own supplies, but this is not essential. For an additional $10 materials fee which you can either pay ahead with your class registrations or "day of" our class, I provide excellent materials for you to start/complete your project in class. More on supplies below.

My teaching goal is to create a delightful experience.

Imagine having fun learning something new and sometimes challenging. Everyone can do this, and I will teach the skills necessary to create beautiful paintings you will be proud of. I take a step-by-step approach and demonstrate everything so you can feel comfortable about how to proceed. I've been teaching a long time (almost 20 years) and my approach has been very successful with many of my students going on to enter shows, win awards, and even to teach others themselves. I appreciate there will be different levels of experience in the group and can meet everyone where they are from complete beginner to those who have experience. I will help everyone get to the next level. There will be time for individual help and personal consults along the way. I find students really gain from this.

PROPOSED SCHEDULE & PROJECTS

We will meet once a month, almost every month on the 4th Monday. Here are our dates:

January 27 -- free demo / handouts / talk about supplies

February 24 -- learning to mix paint and apply it / botanical project

March 24 -- some color theory / tulip project

April 28 -- understanding value / dramatic monochromatic still life

May 26 -- negative painting / spring flowers or maybe koi fish in a pond

June 23 -- basic flat wash / first landscape: mountains

July 28 -- graduated washes / second landscape with water in it

August 25 -- incorporating pen and ink / dragonflies and butterflies

September 22 -- fun masking techniques / fall leaves

October 27 -- no class as I am away

November 24 -- card making / holiday subject matter

December-- we are off for holiday break.

SKILLS AND PROJECTS

We will cover every aspect of watercolor painting including these topics: laying down paint "wet-into-wet" versus "wet-into-dry," understanding and mixing color, brush work, glazing and negative painting, creating washes for beautiful underpaintings, using other media (e.g., salt, alcohol, "resist," and more) to effect, building good compositions, understanding the importance of value, how to do corrections and save a painting. There will be review each time because repetition is good and we will add to what we know as we go. I will provide an inspiration piece that you can print at home or look at on your phone for our project. I will also bring samples of completed paintings to show where we are going. Some of those I will post to this page below for your further reference.

HOW TO SIGN UP AND SOME CLASS POLICIES.

At each class, I will take registrations for the next class. This is the way to reserve your space for the next month. Class fees are $35/session. There is an additional $10 fee if you would like me to provide your materials (including high quality paper and professional paints for use in class and all the other miscellaneous items that are needed.) More on supplies below.

You may register with cash, check, or Venmo. If there is space available the day of class, I will take walk-ins for those seats. Current students have priority to continue.

Class enrollment will be limited to 16 students per session. There will be a waiting list for any openings that come up.

If you sign up for a class and must miss, there are no refunds. Please let me know if you've paid and must miss. If you are a typically an afternoon person and you'd like to switch to the morning because of an unavoidable conflict, let me know. I try to be flexible. You are also welcome to make up the missed class by coming to a Tuesday Open Studio at my home studio in Tualatin (10 minutes away) in the weeks before the next class.

I will usually send a reminder about the class a week before we are meeting with any information you need to know. There may be an inspiration piece (either a photograph or painting) as a jumping off point or reference for our project. You are welcome and encouraged to print these and bring to class if you wish. Some students prefer to refer to the inspirations pieces on an iPad or their phone. If you have questions or feedback for me, I love hearing from you in email or with a text or phone call.

THE SUPPLIES LIST

Gathering what you need for class...

The list below at first will seem overwhelming, but do not be daunted. Most of what you need you probably already have. I've been wordy about some of it to help you make decisions. Also, I will bring some supplies to share which will make life easier for students.

There are many places to get your supplies; a few places include Blicks (art store in Beaverton), Michaels (bring your coupons), or Amazon (have it shipped to your door.)

As another option, you can pay a small materials fee ($10) and I will supply you with paper, a paint tray for in class, and other things you need to get you started. If you already own paints and don't want to get new ones, that is fine. Bring what you have to our class and we'll see how it works.

Basic materials for class:

Paper: The most important item on this list. The right paper is EVERYTHING. Two full sheets (22” X 30”) of #140 lb. Cold Press watercolor paper (NOT cold press rough or hot press) by Arches, Fabriano, or any other professional grade. We will paint on quarter sheets (11” x 15”) Okay to get WC paper in “block” form but make sure to get minimum 10” x 14” size. Arches sells blocks of 20 sheets to various sizes.
Thick Board (water-resistant on one side at least) to tape your paper to for support. 13” x 19” inches is ideal. (Available for purchase in class for $5.) Not needed if you’re working off a block. I will also bring extras for you to use and return after class.
Palette with lid. A good size rectangular plastic palette with paint wells around the outside and a good size mixing area in the inside. The palette should measure about 10” x 16” and contain at least 18 wells. There are various manufactures of these palettes, but they are all around the same size/configuration/price. We use John Pike WC Palettes with 18 wells in class.
Paint: Student or professional grade (I highly recommend using professional watercolors) tube watercolor paint such as M. Graham, Daniel Smith, Schminke, Holbein, Winsor Newton. My favorite is M. Graham because it is made with honey and has a special vibrancy and glow. We use M. Graham in our paint trays in class.
Paint Colors: Azo Yellow, Gamboge, Naphthol Red, Quinacridone Rose, Maroon Perylene, Dioxizine Purple, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Cerulean Blue, Phthalo Green, Sap Green, Permanent Pale Green, Nickel Quinacridone Gold (NQ Gold), Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Peyne’s Gray. All my colors are M. Graham but if you have other manufacturers paint, use what you have. Okay to mix manufacturers. If you can only get a few colors to start with my recommendation is to get the 3 primaries: Quinacridone Red, Ultramarine Blue, and Nickel Quinacridone Gold.
Correction color: Little jar of Dr. PH Martin’s Bleed-Proof White, and/or White Gouache
A few Paint Brushes: There will be a supply of brushes to share in class for use in class. Ifyou are buying brushes, suggested sizes Round #8 and #12. I suggest a combination natural and synthetic hair. Don’t go too cheap! This size brush is a real workhorse. A small round #4 or #6. If you want a recommendation, Black Velvet brand is nice. My favorite is the Connoisseur brand. Get round #6 or #8 size, model #357 and a Connoisseur Risslon oval wash (i.e., “cat’s tongue”) ¾” size, model #046.
Pencil. A small graphite drawing pencil (can simply be a soft Ticonderoga office pencil)
Eraser. Important to get a Kneaded Eraser or Staedtler Mars so as not to damage your good paper! I use Faber-Castell Kneadable Erasers. (excellent and inexpensive)
Tape: ½ to 1” wide 3M blue painter’s tape or artist tape that can keep out water but will not harm the watercolor paper when pulling off (only if you want straight edges around your painting when you’re done.) Not masking tape.
One big round straw
Lifting tools: A roll of absorbent kitchen paper towels
Old washcloths and towels for wipe up.
Water container (an old yoghurt or cottage cheese container is perfect).
Spray bottle that gives a nice mist.

Extras / Nice to have but not essential:

WC Art journal/Sketchbook: Lots of sizes to choose from, just don’t skimp on weight of paper otherwise you defeat yourself (i.e., don’t go less than #90 lb.) I love the Strathmore “Windpower Watercolor, Cold Press & Acid Free” kind (red cover) and are 9” x 12” in size and contain 15 sheets at 140lbs per sheet weight. If you go with a different brand, look for “140 lb cold press” as the quality of the paper is everything...poor paper quality will compromise your results.
Old scrub brush for lifting, or buy a couple of “scrubbers.” Not expensive.
A box of Mr. Clean (original) Magic Erasers again for lifting.
Optional--Masking fluid: I’m not a huge fan of this type of product or process, but it definitely has its uses. This is totally optional, but if you like this way of painting, Winsor Newton Masking Fluid or Pebeo Drawing Gum works well. You’ll need to have some inexpensive brushes and toothpicks to use with the miskit so as not to ruin your good WC brushes.
Variety of waterproof (i.e., “permanent”) pens. Sharpies are great and truly permanent but are limited in size options. If getting Sharpies, get “Fine” and “Ultra Fine.” Other options include Pigma Micron, Staedtler, and Faber-Castell Pitt. Okay to use inks colors in addition to black. Consider getting a 6-pack of small to medium sized pens by Sakura Pigma Micron.
Ruler or some sort of straight edge
Apron (some of the paints are staining.)
Art bag to put everything in.

Instructor will Bring or make available at website:

Inspiration piece or photo reference for our project
Samples of completed project
Tracing for the drawing of the subject
Light tables for tracing the drawing
Basic materials to share in class for no fee: boards, water buckets, paper towel, pencils, some brushes.
Materials for use in class for a small fee ($10) includes professional paint tray and professional paper (140 lb Cold Pressed).