Experiments in Watercolor
Instructor: Estelle Hart
estelle.hart@comcast.net 

A fun, relaxed and inspiring class that will trigger your creative self with lots of tips, tricks and techniques as well as basic to advanced techniques to bring new life, color and vitality to your watercolor paintings.  You will work with both dry brush and wet-in-wet methods while allowing the medium to do what it naturally does; travel in water.   You will paint both representational as well as expressionist projects that change each week to give you a broad new palette of ideas and information as you continue on your watercolor study.  Some projects include landscapes, trees, skies, bodies of water, still life and adding figures to your work all in a lovely, expressive way.  You will experiment with all kinds of materials, additives and media brought in by the instructor.  It’s a jam-packed class that will bring new life to your watercolors regardless of your experience.

Supplies:

• Watercolor Paper (140 lb cold press is fine)
• A watercolor notebook or sketchbook (you can find these spiral bound, or you can just use a spiral bound pad of watercolor paper).

• A bamboo brush (usually inexpensive so shop for bargains)
• A bamboo pen or a dipping-type metal pen or whittled stick
• A ½” flat brush (optional)
• A 1” flat brush
• #8, #10, #12 round brushes
• One little, round, pointy brush for details (if you must).
• An indelible pen or sharpie
• A small set of oil pastels
• A drawing pencil such as a Design Ebony pencil and a kneaded eraser

• Bring your favorite colors

• Some black ink such as India ink or sumi ink
• Piece(s) of Plexiglas (you can purchase this at Home Depot or Loews…). Ask for second or damaged pieces and you will save money).  It’s nice to have several pieces.
• White, plastic eraser
• Kneaded Eraser
• Glue for collaging (such as YES paste or an archival glue stick)
• Paper Towels – please bring some to each class
• Small, kitchen sponge – important
• Small spray bottle(s)  – very important
• Plastic water container – very important (cottage cheese type containers, are fine)
• A toothbrush
• Small natural sponge
• Some facial tissues
• A little container of salt (the little packages from fast food restaurants work great)
• A small bottle of rubbing alcohol
• Some plastic wrap
• A few Q-tips
• A single-edged razor blade or an old credit card