Intro to Watercolor II, Winter, 2014

Here's the instructor's view of our busy classroom on Saturday for my Intro to WC II workshop.
We worked all day until the room was full of color swatches, brushwork exercises, color wheels, greeting card crocus (croci, crocii, crocuses; all are correct for the plural according to the dictionary) and a shoreline landscape with figures, a boat and a kite at the end.
There was even a drawing where Gail won her choice of 3 fun art sets. Congratulations, Gail!

Join us for the next one April 26 and May 24 at Kirkland Arts Center. All new projects and skills to learn each time you come.

Sketching tools

This illustrates the entire process of planning a painting by using a value plan.
The purpose of a value plan is to reduce a composition to the barest essentials, concentrating on arrangement and simplification.

Three possible tools:

1. Sketchbook and pencil
2. Sketchbook and markers
3. Watercolor sketchbook and black watercolor

Art & Wine, Watercolor Lighthouse

"Watercolor Lighthouse"
Original Watercolor by Michele Cooper
Step by step painting for Art & Wine
Size: 9x12"

Tonight was my 4th Art & Wine workshop for Kirkland Arts Center. What a great group of people....and I think they were amazed at what they could do.  After a little wine, cheese and some step by step instruction, they realized that they were artists, too!

Art & Wine is where you come and taste wine, paint without having to bring ANY supplies, and have fun from 3-6 on a Saturday with me. I'll lead you through a colorful watercolor painting (this time it was a lighthouse) step by step. Bring a friend, no experience necessary! It's Art & Wine. Details here.   Or we could set one up in your area this summer. :-) Write to me and I will send the FAQs.

"Red Barn in Winter" DVD

Announcement:
I am in the final editing process in the production of my new watercolor instructional DVD. It's the latest in my series of watercolor videos. Here's a section of the painting taught step by step. (click image for larger view)

Step One in "Red Barn" DVD

I'm trying to decide if I should make it into a shorter, 20 minute lesson for $20 or use more material on technique, composition, closeups, etc. for the fuller version (60 min.) at $30.

What are your thoughts? Please let me know what you think.