The railway poster designers of the inter-war years evolved a highly stylized approach to representational painting. This exciting course shows how to create similar results through vibrant colour, strong composition and tonal reduction using gouache.
– Learn about opaque watercolour, the tradition medium for poster design
– Use gouache to produce flat and textured effects
– Understand tonal reduction
– Use poster design structures to compose a gouache painting.
Click on the title below to find a list of what you’ll need to bring with you.
What to expect
Time at ArtisOn is designed to take you away from it all. We provide the environment, the time and the guidance you need to create. You can expect a warm welcome, skilled and friendly tutors and the chance to meet like-minded people keen to share ideas. You can even leave us to clear up the mess! There will usually be two workshops going on and we encourage everyone to mingle and be nosey about what the other workshop is up to.
We encourage you to arrive at 9.30am. This will allow time to meet other participants over a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits before beginning workshops at 10am. There will be a mid-morning break for refreshments and a chance to talk over progress with others. Lunch is usually around 12:45 for about 45 mins – you can expect a delicious homemade 2 course lunch. There will be a further afternoon break with tea or coffee and cake. All food and refreshments are included in the price of your workshop.
The finish time given is a target. There are occasions when the session may overrun so do let us know if you need to be away promptly.
We aim for your day to be a real treat. You could always learn a new skill in a shed or a draughty village hall with a curly sandwich, but we want you to have more fun than that! So we make sure we provide a day where you will be looked after, with good food, good company and great inspiration!
What you’ll need to bring with you
A selection of whatever brushes you usually use including a No. 1 (very thin), a rigger (long and thin), a medium round, size No. 4-6, and a large round or flat brush
A pencil, drawing pens and rubber
A selection of gouache colours if you have them (preferably in tube form). Some materials will be available to try on the day.
At least five sheets of watercolour paper (no smaller than 10” x 8”) of at least 140 lb. (The weight is usually given on the cover of a pad.)
