Local Workshop
Watercolor Workshop: January 23-January 24, 2010, February 27-28, March 20-21, 2010
"Thank you so much for the wonderful 2 day seminar. Thanks to your efforts, my eyes opened wider than I could have imagined. Although I didn't produce a master piece, I learned so much. I learned about setting up a design for each project prior to painting it. I absorbed ideas, techniques, and got a much clearer sense of colors, mixing, and applying. I see so much clearer now...my path in art is surely going to change in a positive way.
Thank you for your efforts, for fixing a wonderful and delicious lunch for us, and for sharing so many avenues we can take as we paint our masterpieces."
-Sam Mascia
Thank you so much for your interest in the class. This class is basically for beginners and internediates. I know there will be some of you who perhaps paint in other media, or you painted years ago, but it is my belief that we can always learn something new. I am quite sure you will find it great fun painting, learning, talking, eating, sharing and enjoying the company of one another.
We meet on Saturday at 8.30 at Aptos Community United Methodist Church, 221 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos, 95003. This is a street off of Pinehurst near the elementary school. Go to the top of the hill on Thunderbird and you will see the church. Park in the back, come down the ramp and we are in the hall on the left.
We have a demonstration and talk in the morning. After lunch, you will paint with individualized instruction. We end at 4pm and have to clean up our stuff and remove everything because the hall is used by the church on Sunday morning.
Bring your own lunch. There is a full kitchen in case you would like to microwave or heat up soup.
On Sunday you will meet at my house at 8.30. It is close to the church. The address is 151 Manresa Drive, Aptos. If you were to come down the hill on Thunderbird from the church, turn left on Pinehurst, left on Dolphin and then left on Manresa Drive. You will pass about four other streets on your left until you see my street. We are at the top of the cul-de-sac. There is a big white van on the street outside.
Sunday we will meet for critique the previous day’s work and and there will be a “talk” (lecture sounds much too serious!). I will serve you salad and soup and then we will return to the hall in the afternoon to paint. The class will end at 4pm.p
Each person will be given a soft cover copy of my book and a lithographic print of their choice from my selection.
To secure your reservation, please send payment of $125 to Sally Bookman at 151 Manresa Drive, Aptos. Ca 95003. I accept cash, check or Visa/MC (call me with your info.)
MATERIALS LIST
You have invested hard earned money to take this class. Do not cripple your efforts by skimping on your materials. You just cannot achieve the results you want and expect if you are not using decent paper or paints.
If there is one thing you will need, it is the right paper. I recommend for this weekend that you go to Palace or Lenz and purchase 3 sheets ofArches (or Lanaaquarelle) 140lb cold pressed paper. They are 22 x 30 each and we will cut them up into smaller sizes.
I highly recommend that if you can afford it, that you purchase tube watercolors. If you think this is the one and only time you re going to paint, then it is okay to get student grade or even a set of hard flat paint. But if you do buy a set in a pan just make sure they are not opaque colors.
Obviously I prefer and recommend professional grade paints because they have less filler in them and the colors are so much more intense. But they are more pricey. You can purchase them for less on line unless there is a sale at the local stores but of course there are shipping fees to factor into the final cost.
Here is a basic list :
- Cad yellow light
- Raw Sienna
- Cad Red
- Alizaron Crimso
- Cobalt Blue
- Winsor Blue or Thalo Blue
- Burnt Sienna
I also use a lot of Manganese blue and I have Sap Green on my palette. You do not need any other browns, or black, or white, or grey. However, if you have other colors already, or you see some in the store that you “must have” then by all means bring them with you. We will look them over at class to see if they will be useful to you or a hindrance (ie. Opaque or “muddy”)
In terms of brands, Winsor and Newton, Holbein, American Journey, (less expensive but good) will work. Cotmans is the student grade. It is a good deal cheaper but it is the best of the student brands. Much better you have Cotmans in tubes than a set of the hard stuff!
You will need a palette. They are plastic and inexpensive (under $5.) If you think you might continue painting, get a larger one with maybe a dozen wells and a larger mixing surface.
As for brushes, please do not bring anything smaller than a round No. 12. I am not fussy as to its brand or quality but just make sure it is for watercolor and not acrylics. It does need to make a point.
You will need a support for your paper. We will be cutting the paper in half so the largest size support will be 16 x 23. You can use masonite but it is heavy. Otherwise a piece of heavy foam core (you can glue two pieces together) will work. And then you will need clips to attach it to the board.
All supplies can be purchased locally or go on line to www.cheapjoes.com or call them at 1 800 227 2788. They are having a sale until the end of the year.
The holidays are coming. If someone special wants to get you a gift, you might suggest “All media Paint Set” by Royal and Langnickel. It is $53.99 and comes complete with a wooden stand so you can paint on an angle. And there are three drawers packed with supplies for watercolors, oil and acrylics. You might need to supplement with a few more watercolors but otherwise, everything you need is right there. You can view it on line at www.cheapjoes.com.. This is a great gift if you want to explore other media.
In addition to the above, you will need a toilet roll (yes!), box of tissues, small natural sponge, small towel or paper towels, a large plastic container or small bucket for water, a sketch book or loose pieces of paper to draw on, one No. 3 or higher number soft pencil, and a note book. If you have other supplies (pastels, colored pencils, stamps,) bring them along and we will talk about them and maybe incorporate them into our work.
Finally, because we are working inside we will be working from photographs. I will talk about how we use these as a reference. So bring along a selection of YOUR photos (not magazines or other peoples photos.) that you have a connection with and that excite you to paint.
Any questions call me at 831.688.2917 or email me at sally@sallybookman.com!