Discover the intricacies of botanical art and how to paint An Australian native plant with an easy and fast process. Learn to transfer a supplied subject image on to watercolour paper. Learn to colour-mix and match and paint in washes to create strength and luminosity. Discover the importance of a balanced composition by implementing spatial, colour and tonal balance. Create three dimensionality through form, shadow and composition. All skill levels are welcome. Comprehensive class demonstrations and individual tuition are provided.
- Materials and Techniques: Comprehensive class demonstrations on watercolour techniques including colour-matching and building up watercolour washes
- Botanical Art Processes: Learn the processes necessary to complete a botanical art painting and layering colour to create depth. Explore composition and tonal balance.
- Colour Study: This is a significant process of colour-matching the subject and painting the colour study, before the final painting
- Comprehensive Class Demonstrations and Individual tuition
- Class appraisal. Competed paintings to be appraised by tutor
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Feel confident with colour-matching, colour studies and working with washes to create colour intensity and luminosity.
- Create a balanced composition with spatial, tonal and colour balance.
- Use highlights and shadows to create solidity, form and three-dimensionality.
- Size A4 Tracing paper or baking paper for transferring image to watercolour paper and protecting work.
- Pencils: HB, 2B and 4B
- Pencil sharpener
- White plastic eraser; Grey kneadable eraser
- Masking tape; Paper towels or tissues
- Ruler; Scissors
- 3 x A4 sheets Arches hot pressed (smooth) 300gsm watercolour paper
- 2 water containers (jars, large plastic containers etc)
- Cotton material (for drying brushes) or paper towels, absorbent kitchen cloth (eg Chux)
- Preferably Kolinsky round sable brushes, sizes 3 and 5. Bring other brushes if you have them. These are available in many brands. Imitation sable or synthetic brushes can be used
- Nylon brushes for mixing
Watercolour Materials
Bring all the colours you have. Winsor Cotman colours (less expensive) can be used as well as Winsor & Newton artists colours:
- Cadmium Lemon – or Winsor Lemon
- Cadmium Yellow - or Winsor Yellow
- Permanent Rose
- French Ultramarine – or Ultramarine
- Paynes Grey or Sepia
- Burnt Umber
- Other Useful Colours: Cadmium Red; Burnt Sienna
IMPORTANT: Please arrive to the first class with all the relevant materials. A lack of materials is not just a handicap to you but to the ability to teach. Materials cost is not included in a course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled WEA cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any course materials. We therefore suggest you purchase your materials closer to the time of the course commencing.
The following stockists below are examples of places you can buy art materials from:
- Art on King: 199-201 King Street, Newtown. Ph: 9516 2342
- Eckersley's Art and Craft Store: 93 York Street, Sydney. Ph: 9299 4151. Also located in various locations throughout Greater Sydney.
- Parkers Art Supplies: 3 Cambridge Street, The Rocks. Ph: 9247 9979
- The Art Scene: 914 Victoria Road, West Ryde. Ph: 9807 6900
- The Sydney Art Store: 11 Salisbury Street, Botany. Ph: 9699 2162
You can also purchase materials from places such as Dymocks, Officeworks, Spotlight, Lincraft or online art suppliers such as Art Shed Online.
