Upcoming Beginning Watercolor Painting – Learning the Basics

6-Week Class with Ann Celeste Rushing

Wednesdays, September 17 – October 22, 2025

10:30 am – 1:30 pm

In this 5 week class, your Instructor will cover the following topics: Essential watercolor supplies (including quality brushes, paints and paper), Setting up a painting space, Characteristics of watercolors (transparency, staining, granulation) and why some watercolors do not mix well, review primary colors, warm & cool colors, complimentary colors and colors that clash & why.

We will practice the following:  pigment to water mixes to get the color strength needed, while keeping the painting transparent, review the color wheel and students will paint their own color wheels using colors they mix in class, practice color mixing on paper by painting three fun cartoon birds, painting hue and value scales and painting shapes showing light and shadows, paint a flower demonstrating light and shadows, practice watercolor techniques (including wet on wet, wet on dry, watercolor wash, glazing and negative painting) by painting several leaves, and Practice painting washes by painting cups.

Students will learn transferring a picture to their watercolor paper, cutting paper to size and taping watercolor paper to a backing to keep paper from warping. Students do not need drawing skills for this class, just need imagination, patience and willingness to practice, practice, practice.