Description
Come paint outdoors! This plein air watercolor class will touch on perspective drawing, watercolor technique, composition and color theory. Each week one of these areas will be emphasized wile painting the scene. The first class of each session will meet at Venezia Park. You’ll have fun, make new friends and better art.
Supply List for Watercolor En Plein Air Fall 2024
Instructor: Heather McCullough
I am delighted that you are taking the class. The first class of each session will meet at Venezia Park in Venice. Look for me with my easel set up. In the event of rain, we will STILL PAINT, but at a park with aa covered pavilion and I will send and email and text message to the class announcing the location early that morning. If you haven’t heard from me, PLEASE CALL ME! 941-525-6386.
I want you to have a great experience and hope the following information helps to start you off in the right direction. You can minimize the quantity of supplies you choose to bring, but please don’t skimp on the quality!
The happy plein air painter is flexible, adaptable and mobile. Please carefully consider the supplies you bring so that you match your supplies to your sizes. I cannot overstate this. I will paint on ½ or ¼ sheet sized paper either clipped or taped to a cardboard support and will work standing at French box easel. However, art comes in all sizes. It’s completely reasonable to choose a small sketchbook, one pencil, a travel palette, a couple of brushes, small block of paper, a few pieces of paper towel and a small stool… or commit to finding a seat on location. That said, the following is what I recommend you have with you to get the most out of this workshop.
Materials List:
• Sketchbook
• Pencil HB or 2B
• Kneaded eraser
Felt tip black magic marker may be helpful during the third class of this session.
• Paint – MUST be professional brand.
Professional brands include Grumbacher, Winsor & Newton, M. Graham Holbein, Daniel Smith and DickBlick’s paints may be less expensive.
You will need 6 tubes of paint:
o Cadmium yellow light (PY35)
o Permanent Rose (PV19) or Alizarin Crimson quinacridone (PV19) or “regular” Alizarin crimson (PR83) (this is not as bright as the PV19 pigment and tends to be fugitive.)
o Phthalo blue – sometimes listed as Phthalo blue, green shade. (PB15 or PB15.3)
o Ultramarine blue (PB29)
o Phthalo green – sometimes listed as phthalo green, blue shade (PG7)
o Cadmium Red Medium (PR108)
I have other colors on my palette but will stick with these for this class. The color index pigment and number for each of the colors is listed in parenthesis. If you are buying paint, please pay attention to these pigment codes as the common names are sometimes misleading. The pigment odes are printed on the tubes or listed online, usually under a separate tab labeled “more information” about a particular color of paint, depending on the website. Please bring your paint tubes to each class in addition to your palette.
• Palette. This should either be heavy enough to withstand a little wind or be able to be secured in some fashion. A John Pike palette is what I use, and it has worked well for plein-air for over 20 years. Handheld palettes are a good alternative. Whatever you choose needs adequate mixing area.
• Brushes. Professional-grade brushes are strongly recommended. If you are making a purchase, I would suggest the acquiring following:
o 1” or 1 ½ “flat synthetic or nylon (about 1.25 inches long – check the length as well as the width)
o #8 or larger round synthetic (round brushes are not consistently sized, so get something that looks “medium” to you – or wait for class to see what I am using)
o A rigger, liner, or sword liner brush – something that will facilitate making long thin lines.
• Paper. Professional grade watercolor paper is critical. I’d suggest Arches 140lb cold pressed or 140lb rough. I will work on ¼ or ½ sheet sizes. (I buy full sheets and tear them to smaller sizes) You may wish to go smaller, or you may prefer to use a block of paper.
• Support for paper (cardboard works well)
• Bulldog clips or tape – for securing paper to cardboard/support.
• Water and water container
• Paper towel
• Easel and / or chair / stool. I prefer to paint standing most of the time, but you may prefer to paint holding your painting on your lap or we may find picnic tables or benches on location. If you bring and easel, it should be of sufficient weight that it will stand up to potential wind or you must be very good humored! French box easels are weighty, but excellent for plein air painting.
Last, if you still have carrying capacity, a painter’s umbrella is a nice piece of equipment to bring along. I view it as a luxury. It’s of no use if there is more than a gentle breeze, but if the day is calm and sunny, it allows me to pick my best vantage without regard for the Sun. Please do NOT buy one for this class if you don’t already have one. Check out mine first.
Prepare for morning outdoors:
• Layered clothing
• Comfortable Shoes
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Drinking water, coffee, snack
If you have any questions about the class or the supplies, please do not hesitate to call me: 941-525-6386.
Watercolor Quick Checklist:
Sketchbook
Pencil/eraser
Paint tubes
Palette
Brushes
Watercolor paper/ block
Support for paper
Bulldog clips
Water/water container
Paper towels
Easel, chair or stool
Umbrella
Layered clothing
Hat
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Drinking water, coffee, snack, lunch
