In this introductory workshop, I will be covering colour for the first time, as well as introducing you to the use of watercolours in nature journaling.
At the start of the session, we'll be lightly touching on basic sketching of common subjects found in nature, before moving on to the practice and understanding of basic colour theory and the simple application of watercolour paint.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to apply watercolour with ease and flow, using a minimalist colour palette to apply to your nature and field journaling practice, and extending into other areas of your artistic and creative endeavours.
What will you learn:
- basic colour theory using a minimalist colour palette
- introduction to fundamental watercolour techniques such as 'wet-on-wet', 'wet-on-dry' and 'colour mixing'
- a few tools and techniques for applying watercolour and managing water control.
- how to layer watercolours with light washes and build up layers for contrast and depth.
- the use of ink pen to create additional depth and contrast.
Details
- Participlants who are at a Beginner to Intermediate level are welcome. A knowledge of basic drawing is advantageous, but not required to attend.
- Children 13 yrs and above are welcome.
What's Included:
- 'Colours in Nature' Worksheet | Handout to take home.
- Tea, coffee and biscuits.
What to Bring
- Sketch book or drawing paper and/or Visual Diary /Journal
- Watercolour Pad/Journal /paper , min.110gsm or higher (for nature journaling I use watercolour pads from cheapie stores). You're welcome to use good quality watercolour paper - 185gsm hot pressed smooth paper is best but it can be expensive.
- Pencils (H, HB, 2B), rubber (recommend kneadable eraser)
- Watercolour paints, either tube or pan. Tube paint will be wet and pans will be in the form of compressed dry powder. Ensure you have a minimum of a red, yellow and blue colours for mixing. Again, paints from cheapie stores are okay if you're just starting. *N.B. A higher the quality of paints and paper will yield better results if you're wanting to start a serious art practice, but for nature journaling, I advocate for a more relaxed approach. So go with whatever you're comfortable with.
- Watercolour brushes - just a basic set and/or refillable watercolour brush x 2
- Waterproof Ink Pen/s (0.4mm or over) such as Micron, Faber Castell, Artline, etc.
- Drinks and snacks (optional).
- I'll have additional sketching and watercolour paper, watercolour paints and resources on hand.
***IMPORTANT: YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF PAINTS OR PAPER TO GET STARTED!! IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE ANY WATERCOLOUR PAINTING BEFORE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A FORTUNE. KEEPING IT SIMPLE WILL MOST OFTEN GIVE YOU THE BEST RESULTS!
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS & MEET-UPS
- Colours of Nature: An Introduction to Nature Journaling with Watercolours, Saturday 12th October, 2024 at Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre (3hrs).
- (FREE) November Meetup: Nature Journaling in the Field. Saturday 9th November, 2024 at Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. This will be our final meetup for 2024.
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