AFTERNOONS: Wed 13, 20, 27 March 2024 and 10, 17, 24 April 2024
Join Karen to explore the wonderful world of painting plants and flowers over 6 weeks. Be part of small mixed experience, group developing their skills to express and paint beautiful shapes, fabulous details and colours, creatively using watercolour techniques to produce beautiful finished art works.
– 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 and gouache painting
– Use specific techniques such as mixing greens and use of tonal values
Explore the processes of selecting your subject, drawing up and layout of a design for your piece, practice and develop your painting techniques as you work to complete your botanical artwork. 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. 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. Karen will be on hand to advise and give guidance and feedback throughout.
Please note there is a £5 material charge for papers etc, or if you’d like to use Karen’s paint colours for the duration of the course instead of buying the full range, £10 will cover both.
Click on the title below to find a list of what you’ll need to bring with you if anything.
***Please note that tuition and refreshments only are included in the cost of this workshop and not lunch***
What to expect
A weekly course at ArtisOn is designed to provide the environment, the time and the guidance you need to create and develop your skills. The weekly format allows you to develop your work and ideas between sessions. You are more able to work at your own pace and really feel you have made progress between the first and last session.
You can expect a warm welcome, skilled and friendly tutors, plus the chance to meet like-minded people keen to share ideas and experiences. There may be two courses going on and we encourage everyone to mingle and be nosey about what the others are up to!
Full day weekly workshops
We encourage you to arrive at 9.30am to 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 the workshop.
Half day weekly workshops
We encourage you to arrive at 9.00am to allow time to meet other participants over a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits before beginning your workshop at 9.30am.. We always have a mid-session break for refreshments and a chance to talk over progress with others. All refreshments are included before and during the session each week although lunch is not.
We often run half day workshops consecutively on one day. Therefore the finish time given is fairly crucial. We will do our best to ensure your session does not overrun.
What you’ll need to bring with you
Please bring the following if you have them. If not, ArtisOn has some core items to borrow as shown below. There is also the option to use specific paint colours from Karen's collection for a small additional cost.
• X3 magnifying glass (easily obtained from a optician or ordered online)
• Pencils HB and 2B - we have more available to borrow
• A fine liner permanent pen if you have it (we have these to borrow if not)
• Putty rubber (we have these to borrow if not)
• Paint brushes (preferably sable) a range of sizes i.e. 7/8, 5, 4, 2/3, 1 - additional brushes available to borrow. Karen uses Rosemary & Co
• The following colours of Artists Quality Watercolour Paints used:
Transparent Yellow
New Gamboge
Cerulean Blue
Burnt Sienna
French Ultra Marine
Cobalt Blue
Alizarine Crimson
Quinacridone Magenta
Permanent Rose
Burnt Umber
Titanium White Gouache
Please don't panic and feel you have to buy all these. If you don't have them Karen will have them available for a small extra charge.
Please feel free to bring botanical plant material that appeals to you. Or bring photographs of appealing images - they don't wilt and can also be used to trace from.
Please note there is a small charge of £5 to cover papers and other supplies. If you'd like to supplement from Karen's paints, add another £5. The only other extra would be if you want to try using Vellum as this is a specialist materials and will be available at cost.
