Description
FALL LEAVES IN WATERCOLOR WITH PEN & INK
INSTRUCTOR – Angela Wrahtz
Mondays, November 4, 11, 18 2024
If you are looking for new ways to get creative and have fun with your watercolors, this class series is for you. We will review wet-on-wet techniques that result in exquisite blends and bursts of color. We will play with shapes, creating compositions based on fall leaves, and learn methods of incorporating line work of various kinds to enhance the shapes and edges and to create highly playful and engaging pieces of art. Students are asked to collect some leaves from their yards to use as source material
By the third class, we will also expand on the idea of fall leaves, adding other botanical features as desired (acorns, rocks, etc.) For this session, so you will be encouraged to bring reference materials from nature that appeal to you, or images you’ve always wanted to paint.
The class is designed to meet the student at whatever their skill level — from beginner to more advanced. Come with a willingness to let go and have some fun!
November 4 We will play with shapes, talk about composition, and warm up with a small abstract exercise that incorporates watercolor and embellishing line work and geometry. Presentation on techniques using different kinds of lines and various pens. We will practice some traditional lines and make up some of our own. Also, an introduction to some Zentangle techniques. (Bring your ultra fine-line Sharpies and/or favorite permanent pens and markers!)
November 11 We will build on the skills we learned in the first session, and design a composition using fall leaves of various sizes and shapes. Students are asked to collect some leaves from their yards as source material (for reference and/or tracing around.) The instructor will bring some finished inspiration pieces to get you started thinking about how to plan and execute on your own painting.
November 18 We will begin our third painting with pen and ink expanding on the idea of fall leaves but adding other botanical features as desired (acorns, rocks, etc.) For this session, you are encouraged to bring reference materials from nature that appeal to you, or images from your stash of stuff you’ve always wanted to paint. If you prefer to bring an unfinished painting you believe could benefit from the application pen and ink based on what we’ve been doing in class, you are welcome to bring that with you to work on.
ARTIST BIO Angela is an award-winning artist whose principal medium is watercolor with mixed media. She blends traditional techniques and unexpected experimental methods, such as acrylic marbling, which give her work a unique energy. Angela has won numerous top awards at juried competitions including Best of Show at WSO’s 2023 Spring Experimental Exhibition, and People’s Choice Award in the Spring 2023 at OSA’s Annual Water Media Show. She was the top-selling artist at the 2024 Celebration of Creativity Fine Art Show and Sale, and has been called to serve as a juror for art associations in the region including the Oregon State Fair Fine Art Show.
Angela has a BA from Hiram College in Ohio and an MA from the University of Michigan. She enjoyed a career in publishing in the Bay Area before relocating to
Oregon, where she teaches art and volunteers in the community. You can learn more about her at www.angelasarthouse.com.
SUPPLY LIST
- FALL LEAVES Collect some fall leaves of various sizes and shapes to use as source material.
- PAPER 3 pieces of good quality watercolor paper. I use Arches cold-pressed 140lb natural or bright white. If you like very fine perfect detail, you may prefer hot pressed as it is a smoother surface for the pen to glide over.
- WATERCOLORS I use M. Graham but bring what you have. The guild has extra paints to loan out if you need a specific color you don’t have.
- BRUSHES An assortment of brushes from medium to small with a good point to them—basically a #6 or #8 round and a #2 or #4 with a good point for detailed work to finish the project. Bring a mop brush (i.e., a #20 round, again that holds a lot of water and paint if you have one.)
- PENS Permanent ink pens of various sizes. I often use Sharpies (fine and ultra fine) but Microns are great, or other artist pens. Black is what we will use mostly, but if you have pens in colors or in white, that’s great! Bring them with you!
- MISC
- An old towel to dry up excess water and paper towels for lifting.
- Water container,
- Pencil and eraser,
- Artist tape or blue painter’s tape,
- A surface to tape your paper to such as a Masonite board or gator board (unless your paper is on a block or pad.)
