Watercolours Autumn Term 2024
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
Autumn Term 2024 Course Programme
From Drawing to Painting the Still Life
Wednesday afternoons 4:15-6:45pm from 11 September
Wednesday evenings 7-9:30pm from 11 September
Module 1 (11 September - 2 October)
Line, Shading and Tone
Week 1 Drawing from observation through line, understanding shapes and spacing. Free flow pencil and ink line drawings. Establishing shape.
Week 2 Learn how to see light, tone and shade, create volume and shape with a range of pencil strengths.
Week 3 Understanding negative space, how to plot objects on the horizontal and vertical. Looking at foreground vs background.
Week 4 Mixing a minimal palette, adding watercolour washes to your drawings.
Module 2 (9 October - 13 November)
Adding Colour and Blending
Week 5 Mixing a wider range palette and learning how to create shape and volume, light and shadow, establish foreground vs background.
Week 6 Building up layers, thin washes to drier pigment build-up.
Week 7 Backgrounds, what to soften vs strengthen, establishing a point of focus, simplify vs detail.
Week 8 Fine-tuning volume; tonal shifts; building shadows through pigment mixes. Creating dynamic compositions
Module 3 (20 November - 11 December)
From Drawing to Painting a Full Composition
Week 9 Adding depth to your paintings, strengthening pigments with a drier palette.
Week 10 Discovering and embracing a unique personal style.
Week 11 Finished study from drawing to painting a composition
Week 12 Compositions
Individual modules can be booked via the options on the booking page
I will lead you through easy to follow steps, building up new skills that can be practiced and incorporate. You will discover how to observe, draw and paint directly from natural objects. By the final few weeks you will be equipped to draw and paint a finished composition of your own, creating art you can be proud of. I look forward to introducing you to the ever-inspiring skill of painting the still-life.
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.