In the last few years artists across the globe have taken watercolour to a new level of skill, some creating hyper realistic watercolours that look as detailed as a modern 4K image, while others have moved into semi abstraction that looks extremely slick. Much of this uplift in technical virtuosity is due to a change in approach to the handling of watercolour – wet in wet. Several artists have replaced the traditional wooden drawing board, holding down the paper with masking tape or gum strip for a whole new approach –  By working on a non absorbent surface like plastic, Formica, glass and even ceramic tile, watercolour paper can be adhered by simply heavily wetting both sides. Once wet it can be kept damp for hours by spray wetting enabling the artists to work on and on building up soft defused detail unrushed by the usual time restrictions of traditional drying.

In the last few months Jason has been experimenting with working in this way and been amazed by the resulting experiments.  He believes that this ‘new’ approach to watercolour painting could help many artists overcome previously ‘tricky’ aspects of watercolour handling and help take their artwork to the next level.    

Turn the way you approach watercolour on its head and open up a whole new way of looking at the medium

Medium

Watercolour

Level

This course would suit those who have a little experience of watercolour painting.

Day, location and time

Wednesdays from 10:15 to 12:15 at Newcastle Arts Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne

Duration

12 weeks – see calendar for all dates

Why does Jason think this course would be of value to you as a painter ?

That ‘golden’ time within wet in wet, where you can add fuzzy fine details, which was always traditionally short lived, can now go on and on, which can uplift the level of detailed finish to your work. Even if you have no interest in creating hyper realism a non absorbant surface can drastically change how you might approach abstracting elements of your picture, because you have longer to consider your options and carry out the wet in wet aspects of the painting. This course may be the ‘thing’ you are searching for. Jason will be taking you through a series of projects that show the you potencial of this new way of working with watercolour

What will you do on the course ?

• Get used to working on a non absorbant surface – explore the elongated working time.
• Create a highly detailed close up image of an object using only wet in wet.
• Paint a head, human or animal, sculpting the features and adding details wet in wet and subsequently wet on dry.
• Painting landscapes and seascape with extra depth and detail.
• Creating fleaxed but detailed looking floral art.
• Explore the potencial for semi abstraction of images defusing elements of an image.
• Paint the look of movement using the prolonged wet in wet approach.

What do you need to bring ?

You will need to bring your usual watercolour painting equipment to class and a fine water spray to the first session. Jason will arrange for non absorbant boards/ ceramic tiles to be provided for you at the venue.

If you are unable to purchase the course online then please send a cheque for – course full £180

– made payable to; Painting with Skill to:

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. To avoid disappointment – book early.