Beginning Watercolor Part 1
w/ Joe Mac Kechnie

Date/Time: 4 Tuesdays / April 16, 23, 30 and May 7 / 10:30-1:30 pm

Cost: $195 for 4 classes 

Registration: Call in, come in, or register online. 425.697.2787

Location: Cole Art Studio, located on the lower level of Cole Gallery. 107 5th Ave S, Edmonds WA 98020

Description:
Watercolor is one of the oldest and most revered painting mediums since man first picked up a brush. Used by the ancient Egyptians, mastered by Chinese and Japanese artists and later advanced by European and American artists, watercolor remains one of the most challenging mediums to learn. While it has been said that watercolor has a mind of its own, it has also been said that it seems to have magical qualities not matched by other painting mediums. In this 4 week course, artist Joe Mac Kechnie will show you how to use watercolors and how to control watercolor’s quirky properties to produce quality paintings.

This workshop is open to both beginners with no watercolor experience and also to other artists that have some experience with watercolors but haven’t had the time to advance their skills. In this workshop, beginners and novices will explore the basics of watercolor painting.  Also, Joe will be covering some basic drawing skills in each of the 4 weekly sessions.  This workshop will be intensive and also very rewarding. And, you’ll be painting on your own by the end of the 4-week workshop!  For each weekly session, come rested and ready to tame this great painting medium.  

Supply List:

You can purchase your quality art supplies at ARTspot! Registered students receive a 10% discount on all their art supplies from the time of paid registration until the last day of class. Most items on this list are available at ARTspot. Please let their staff advise you about appropriate art materials to fulfill  requirements for your class.  Artspot's Web Site

Questions about art supplies? ARTspot staff are happy to help you. Call 425-640-6408 or email at ARTspotEdmonds@gmail.com.

You have probably heard it many times before; don’t scrimp on the quality of your art materials.  If you haven’t yet painted that masterpiece, you soon will.  If it was done with inexpensive materials, it will be noticed.  Also, using inexpensive materials may lead you to believe you can never produce an art piece that looks like the pros.  With good quality paints and paper with watercolor is essential and will produce beautiful results.

The following list will give you a good start on your watercolor supplies. If you can, purchase the entire list. 

Drawing Materials:

• #5B or 6B drawing pencils

• Kneaded eraser

• Light blue Pitt pastel pencil by Fiber-Castell or by other manufacturers

Palette:

• A plastic or resin watercolor palette with lid. The John Pike, Robert E. Woods or Frank Webb palettes are good examples. (Joe uses the Masters Plastic folding palette and the John Pike palette)

Brushes:
Joe likes to use flats for washes and rounds for detail work: “I can cover large areas quickly and with more control when using flats. Good brushes hold their shape and can carry a lot of wet pigment. I use both Sable and synthetic brushes.”  Joe says that synthetic brushes are fine for all the following.

Flats

• 2-inch

• 1-inch

• 1/2-inch

• 1/4inch

Rounds

• Nos. 2, 6 & 10

Specialty Brushes

• Dagger (medium)

• Script/liner brush #2

• Small stiff hog’s hair bristle scrub brush

• Old tooth brush (Save your old tooth brushes – they’re good for applying Frisket, etc.)

Optional Brushes:

• Rounds 4 & 8

• 1.5-inch or 1-inch Hake

• Sumi all purpose brush, #3

• #4 fan brush

Paper:

• 3 sheets Arches 140-lb. cold-pressed paper

Paints:
Paints come in numerous brands. Start with the best. Use professional-quality tube paints and you will have fewer problems. If you are buying colors individually both Daniel Smith and M Graham make good quality paints.  Joe notes, “I use tube colors and keep the palette reservoirs filled.”

Here are the colors Joe requires for this class, including some optional colors:

• Permanent Alizarin Crimson

• Cadmium Red Light (or equivalent)

• Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Rose

• Winsor Red or Pyrrol Red

• Cobalt Teal (or equivalent)

• Pthalo Blue

• French Ultramarine Blue

• Yellow Ochre

• Cadmium Yellow Light (or equivalent)

• Burnt Sienna

• Sap Green

• Permanent Green (or equivalent)

• Lamp Black

Optional colors:

• Gamboge

• Titanium White

• Hematite

Other:

• Painter's masking tape

• ½-inch board foam board (Gator Board or equivalent) large enough to mount watercolor paper (16”x24”)

• Paper Towels and soft tissues

• Two large water containers; one to wash the brush and one to rinse (Cole has some of these)

• Liquid Frisket in a bottle

• Single edge razor blade

• Medium size fine mist water spray bottle

Optional Supplies:

• Salt and rubbing alcohol for texture

• Sponges

• Old-style architect adjustable in pen (to apply Frisket)

• Scissors

• Hair dryer (Cole has one of these for your use during class)

• Small 2” mixing dishes for mixing and pouring watercolor

• Small desktop easel – Cole Art Studio has several. Call to reserve one.

• Precut white mats of various sizes

Check this out! ARTspot Concierge Service. ARTspot will personally do your shopping for you! They can set aside the materials you need, ready for pickup - they can even deliver your supplies to Cole Art Studio before your class. Call ARTspot at 425.640.6408 for this great service. Note: To ensure your order can be filled, please order as early as possible.