Watercolours
with Sophie Newnham
Watercolours are a pleasure to work with, whether adding a wash of colour to a drawing, layering to find new colours and shades or as a way to create delicate textures and form.
This medium has subtlety, translucency and an element of surprise. Over the course, we will also be looking at a handful of artists who have found new and interesting ways to use watercolours.
Open to all levels
23, 30 October, 6 & 13 November: Studying the watercolour techniques of Durer with reference to ‘Roller Wing’ and ‘Bluebird’
23 October- Observation, drawing and adding layers of watercolour. Textures, light and dark. Colour matching.
30 October- Focussed in. Re-creating parts of the bluebird painting of Durer. Thin washes vs strengthening the pigments and learning how to balance light vs deep shadow. Wet-on-wet vs adding more pigment.
6 November- Re-creating a Durer bird painting.
Skills- From drawing to painting. Practicing colour matching; brush-shaping; detailing, tonal balance and application of paint.
13 November - Re-creating our own versions with pictures of birds/ animals. You are welcome to bring an inspiring picture you have with you. Practicing and fine-tuning skills so far.
20, 27 November & 4 December: Studying the watercolour techniques of Rory McEwan. Observation and painting from Nature.
20 November- Outline drawing to finished paintings. Direct Observation, fruits, flowers and vegetables. Creating volume, layering and contrast.
27 November – Outline drawing to painting. Building up colour. Direct Observation.
4 December - Outline drawing to painting a composition.
Skills covered: From drawing to watercolour painting. Painting with washes vs detailing; Fine-tuning our watercolours with pencils and fine-liner pens; Adding depth, seeing a range of tones; highlighting.
All necessary materials will be provided for your first session.
Materials provided throughout the course: Pencils- Hs to Bs; rubbers; basic paint, palettes and water holders.
Materials to bring with you: a range of watercolour brushes of various sizes; a block of watercolour paper; a simple set of watercolour paints; a set of fine-liner coloured inks; a bottle of masking fluid, and paper towels.
Spring Term part one: Studying the watercolour techniques of Elizabeth Blackadder
Monday evenings 8, 15, 22 & 29 January
Tuesday mornings 9, 16, 23 & 30 January
Week 1: Creating free flow flower shapes, one to two layers of watercolour.
Week 2: Painting free flow flower varieties in watercolour from real flowers.
Week 3: Developing a composition, painting with watercolour. Adding inks.
Week 4: Adding extra detailing to a composition, shadows, shaping
Spring Term part two: Studying the watercolour techniques of Paul Cezanne
Monday evenings: 5, 12, 19 & 26 February
Tuesday mornings: 6, 13, 20 & 27 February
Week 5: Still Life Ginger Jar + fruit. Volume + defining foreground+ background
Week 6: Painting fruit, materials and pots with reference to Morandi
Week 7: Painting a set composition, fruit and bowls. Volume, shadow, shape
Week 8: Finishing a set composition, fruit and bowls. Volume, shadow, shape
Spring Term part three: Studying the watercolour techniques of Sarah Graham
Monday evenings: 4, 11, 18 & 25 March
Tuesday mornings: 5, 12, 19 & 26 March
Week 9: Drawing enlarged insects with monochrome inks and watercolor washes
Week 10: Drawing enlarged insects with coloured inks and watercolor washes
Week 11: Creating our own compositions with flowers and insects
Week 12: Completing our composition
““Sophie took us through all the key skills we needed for drawing and painting from nature and somehow I now have the confidence to just try drawing things around me. Before this I had no idea how to even start. Thank you!”
Undecided? contact us to arrange for an initial taster. If you decide to continue to the end of term, the taster is deducted from the fee for the remaining sessions.
For a taster session, all materials are included. For regular students, we can advise you on obtaining materials at the taster.