Watercolor From Start to Finish
A 9-week course offered offered each year in fall, winter, and spring
Thursdays 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, The Art League

This class introduces classic watercolor techniques and builds slowly from the simple to the more complex.  Topics include use of value, control of the medium, color mixing and composition.  Demonstrations are part of the class, but painting by students from still life and photographic references is emphasized.  Experienced students focus on assignments to improve color handling, composition, and specific painting problems.

The “color” part of “watercolor” offers both excitement and challenge to the painter in this transparent medium.  A series of paint-handling and color-mixing exercises in this workshop will enable the watercolorist to use the colors on his or her palette with more confidence and understanding of why pigments and color act the way they do. The focus is on acquiring knowledge and skills that you will apply every time that you paint, rather than on producing a finished painting in class.

Workshop: Glazing in Watercolor
Sat.-Sun., April 6-7, 2013. The Yellow Barn Studio.

Glazing in watercolor involves painting one layer of color over an already painted surface. Although the inherently transparent nature of watercolor makes glazing a natural technique for the medium, the actual process of layering the paint can either make or break a watercolor painting. Students will learn about the many uses for glazing and how to apply the paint effectively to build both color and composition. This workshop works best for students with at least a little experience.

Other workshops not yet scheduled:

Painting Nature Up Close in Watercolor 

Using actual natural objects and photographic references as source material, students will work on composition, drawing and watercolor technique to make compelling paintings from some aspect of the natural world.  Intermediate watercolor experience and skills helpful.

Negative Painting: A Positive Experience for Watercolorists

Learn how to create exciting images in watercolor by painting around your subject, rather than painting the subject directly. In the process you will think about painting in a whole new way and develop both painting and composition skills. For watercolor painters with at least a little experience.

Watercolor by Design

A little pre-planning does wonders for ensuring the success of a painting.  This class will focus first on effective methods of working with design elements to construct strong compositions, and then on realizing these compositions through the process of painting in watercolor.  For watercolorists with at least a little experience.

Still Life in Watercolor

Still life painting is an excellent way to hone skills but does not stop there.  Learn how to create exciting, unified paintings in watercolor starting with everyday fruits and vegetables.  For watercolorists with at least a little experience.

Can This Painting Be Saved?: Problem-Solving in Watercolor

Take your watercolor painting to a higher level by learning to assess your work in a constructive way throughout the painting process, and discover ways to make the changes necessary to build a strong painting even when things have gone awry. For watercolorists with at least a little experience and some problem paintings.

Close-Focus Watercolor

Taking a close-in viewpoint enables the artist to explore the interplay between the representational and the abstract, and thereby make exciting paintings.  Working from photographs and actual objects, students in this workshop will develop good compositions, and use a variety of watercolor techniques to realize these compositions. For watercolorists with some experience.

How to register for classes and workshops

For classes and workshops at The Art League School in Alexandria, VA: Register online at www.theartleague.org  or contact The Art League at their office 703-683-2323, located on the 2^nd floor of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.  Full information about The Art League is given on their website and in their School catalog, issued annually.

For workshops through the Yellow Barn Studio: Register online at the website of the Glen Echo Partnership for Arts & Culture, Inc., www.glenechopark.org, or contact the Partnership at their office 301- 634-2222, located on the 2^nd floor of the Arcade Building, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD.  Full information on registration and refund policies is given in the GEPPAC catalog. Supply lists are available from the instructor.  

Classes at the Yellow Barn Studio are offered in cooperation with the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture Inc., the National Park Service and Montgomery County.

Course details and dates are subject to change.  For the latest information or if you have questions, please contact Rachel Collins at 703-838-9695 or rbcollinsart@yahoo.com.