
Two summers ago it was so cold and rainy my garden languished. Last summer it was HOT!!
For this first class there may be storms - we'll just have to wait and see. But we can always move the class to the basement and keep painting!
This first week we'll be looking at the basics of the medium of watercolor.
I'll post more after the class but we intend to discuss brushes, paper, and Paint!
In most artistic media quality is important over cost but it is even more so in watercolor. A really good tube of watercolor is such a good investment.
During manufacture, pigment is suspended in an emulsion. If you use student grade colors - less of the pigment is added. So, to increase the intensity of a color the artist needs to add more and more paint. In a more expensive
tube of paint there is more pigment added - so less paint is used. At this point it seems like a wash - doesn't it? I'll just use more of the cheaper stuff and come up with the same result.
Except it doesn't work that way! Adding more and more paint only results in muddying the painting and that wonderful luminosity that is characteristic of watercolor is never achieved.
So, in short it is better to use a smaller number of professional grade colors and mix to create colors - than to have a whole bag full of student grade color.
Wednesday:
Now that we've had our first class we are going to try to set up a catalogue order. I've listed some materials you might like to have but these are by no means necessary. I'm including prices if we all order together and the dollar amount is enough for free shipping. If we have a complete order by Thursday night I'll send it in - if not we'll decide in class next week how we'd like to proceed. You are always welcome to find materials at the local stores or on line for yourself.
And we will be putting together a catalogue order for Daniel Smith during class in the next few weeks - so if you want to wait for that it will be fine.
So: here are some things you might like:
Watercolor paper: $2.25 a sheet
6"x6" aquaboard: 4 pack for $5.09
Watercolors:
Alizarin Crimson $7.27
Aureolin Yellow $8.90
Ceruleon Blue $11.57
Phtalo blue $7.27
Quin Violet $8.43
Transparent Orange $11.57
Veridian (Green) $8.90
Brushes:
1/2" wash brush $9.84
3/4" wash brush $15.91
1 round brush $7.83
2 round brush $8.29
If you have any questions about the order or anything covered in class please comment. Or you may email me at glennkm@msn.com