This is a series of 3 full days. Dates are: 18, 25 April and 02 May
Join artist Karen Innes to explore the wonderful world of painting plants and flowers over three consecutive Wednesdays. Learn how to express and paint their beautiful shapes, fabulous details and colours, creatively, using watercolour techniques to produce a piece of finished art work. During this series of days you will:
– Gain a brief historical insight into botanical painting
– Learn how to observe closely and investigate botanical subjects
– Learn how to lay out a piece of subject matter for impact
– Learn techniques used in watercolour & gouache painting
– Use specific techniques such as mixing greens and use of tonal values
Week 1 will focus on introducing processes and skills required to produce a piece of watercolour botanical painting. You will begin to observe plant materials and use pencil drawing to understand the way that plants grow and identify their unique textures, shapes, and linear qualities and patterning. You will have practice in using water colour, setting up a work sheet. You will learn about how to start and develop a sketch book, and produce a small piece of work.
During the following two weeks, the focus will be on each individual’s development – building on skills in order to produce a finished piece of art work. You will review the previous week’s outcomes before moving on to the use of composition to create an exciting finished piece of artwork. You will work through the process of selecting your subject, drawing up and layout of a design for your piece and practice and develop your painting techniques as you work to complete your botanical artwork. Karen will be on hand to advise and give guidance and feedback throughout.
Please note there is a £5 material charge.
Click on the title below to find a list of what you’ll need to bring with you if anything.
What to expect
Days at ArtisOn is designed to take you away from it all and provide the environment, the time and the guidance you need to create. You can expect a warm welcome, skilled and friendly tutors plus the chance to meet like-minded people keen to share ideas and experiences. 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.
Arrive in time to meet other participants over a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits on day one. Begin your session at the appointed time and there will be a mid-morning break for refreshments and a chance to talk over progress with others. Each day lunch will be around 12:45 for about 45 mins – you can expect a homemade 2 course lunch each day. The main course will be delicious but don’t overdo it as the puds are usually worth waiting for! There will be a further afternoon break with the most wonderful cakes from Roots & Fruits Home Bakery, a North Yorkshire micro-bakery producing handmade bread and cakes. All food and refreshments are included in the price of the workshop and providing we have notice, we are happy to cater for any dietary needs.
Finish time is given as a target – there is some flexibility depending on how your work is progressing. Depending on the tutor and the group, start times follow on days can be flexible too.
We aim for your time with us to be a real treat… of course 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 it a day being looked after, with good food, good company and great inspiration!
What you’ll need to bring with you
There will be some materials and equipment available to borrow.
However participants should bring their own core materials as follows.
• X3 magnifying glass (easily obtained from a optician or ordered online)
• Pencils HB and 2B
• Putty rubber
• Sketch book
• Paint brushes (preferably sable) sizes 5, 3, 1.
• The following colours of Artists Quality Watercolour Paints used:
Transparent Yellow
New Gamboge
Burnt Sienna
French Ultra Marine
Cobalt Blue
Windsor Blue Green Shade
Windsor Red
Quinacridone Magenta
Permanent Rose
Burnt Umber
If you would like to purchase any of this at cost from Karen on the day, please let us know.
Please feel free to bring botanical plant material as that appeals to you too.
Please note there is a small charge of £5 to cover papers and other supplies used during the 3 weeks, where the type and quality selected are really important.
