Beginning and Intermediate Watercolor
Tuesdays: January 7, 14 and 28, and February 4, 2025. Snow date is February 11.
10 am - 12:30 pm
$140
Instructor: Catherine Hillis
Where do you go to learn how to paint with watercolors? You go to the best.
Catherine Hillis has a long history of teaching across the country and around the world. Locally, she's served as an instructor at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA and the Lorton Workhouse, Lorton, VA. Every winter, she teaches at the Anderson Fine Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA and at the Art League of Hilton Head, SC and NOW......Hillis will join the faculty of WATERCOLOR LIVE on January 21, 2025.
This resident of Central Virginia wants to share with you everything she knows about watercolor painting. Join her in the new classroom on the 1st floor of Sophia Street Studios. Strengthen your skills in technique, composition, drawing and color knowledge. Bring your supplies and photographs you want to work from, tighten up your technical skills and then move on to sophisticated composition and create your winning paintings. Every week will include new demonstrations and new curriculum.
Supplies:
There is no substitute for good quality paper and paint. If you already own watercolor supplies, please bring what you have, and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions. Email: catherine.h.hillis@gmail.com Phone: 703-431-6877
Paper: A small Arches 140lb cold pressed watercolor block. 12 x 16 or smaller is fine. If you use cheap paper, you will NOT be able to replicate my technique. Write to me if you have questions. Other excellent brands include: Artistico Fabriano, Richeson, Saunders, Kilimanjaro.
Board: If you are using separate pieces of paper instead, bring a gator board/corrugated plastic board or something similar and masking tape.
Accessories: water container, paper towels, pencils, kneaded eraser, a spray bottle for water.
Palette: Your choice: A large white plate will work. I use a large square or round palette with lots of mixing space and a lid. Here’s another good choice.
Brushes: Your choice. I use a medium round mop, a small round for details, a rigger, and a flat. Here are some reasonably priced brands: Raphael Soft Aqua; Princeton Neptune Quills; the Mimik set, the Princeton line of watercolor brushes is very nice and the #8 Round , the # 4 Round and any of the Mottler Flats are good choices. The CheapJoes.com “Dream Catcher” line and Golden Fleece line are excellent and modestly priced.
Paint Brands: Use only professional grade paints. Cheap paints contain fillers and you will not be able to paint clean, bright colors. I use Daniel Smith paint but there are many excellent brands including:
Winsor-Newton, Mijello, American Journey, Holbein, M. Graham, QOR, Schminke, Maimeri Blu, Sennelier, Dick Blick, and Da Vinci.
Paint Colors: My colors can change but today here are some of the colors on my palette -
Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alizarin Crimson (or Quinacridone Rose), Red Hot Mama (or Pyrrol Scarlet) , Bumblebee Yellow (any warm yellow such as Raw Ochre or Raw Gamboge) and lemon yellow (or Hansa Light). I think these are pretty essential.
I also like to use Lavender, Burnt Sienna, and Neutral Tint but these are not necessary.
Art Supply Companies: CheapJoes.com, JerrysArtarama.com, dickblick.com