Course Overview: Time to try something new? Dive into watercolour with this course designed specifically for absolute beginners. Learn the fundamentals from a professional instructor and accomplished watercolourist as you explore brushstrokes, mark making, colour mixing and basic composition. Through a series of guided exercises and simple paintings, you will build technical skills and confidence while following step by step demonstrations. Expect a supportive learning environment that encourages curiosity, play and creative growth. Prepare for a fun-filled introduction to the world of watercolour and leave feeling ready to continue your creative journey.

Skill Level: Beginners

Dates and Time:

One-week workshop
Monday, July 27 – Friday, July 31
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Important Notes:

Course fee: $400.00 (General) or $365.00 (Senior 55+). HST is not included in the price.
Participants have the option to rent a beginner kit from the instructor, which will include a selection of brushes and professional-grade watercolour pigments in a small palette for $50.00/ week. The kit will be returned to the instructor at the end of the course.
This course takes place at the Belleville Campus: 376 Wallbridge Loyalist Rd, Belleville, ON K8N 5B9.
Campus information, including room number, parking, directions, etc., will be provided closer to the start date.
A refund (less $20.00 administrative fee) will be issued if you withdraw from a class at least 14 days before the start date of the class. After this deadline, no refunds will be issued.
If a course is cancelled by Loyalist College, registered students will be provided with a full refund. College decisions to cancel a course will be made 14 days before the course start date.
If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to art@loyalistcollege.com

Supplies:

Participants have the option of renting a beginner kit from the instructor which will include a selection of brushes and professional grade watercolour pigments in a small palette for $50.00/ week. The kit will be returned to the instructor at the end of the course.

Paint:

Buy artist quality paints in tubes i.e. DaVinci, Winsor Newton, Daniel Smith and Holbein. Do not buy student quality paints like Cotman, Reeves, etc. Start with a warm and cool version of the primary colours. (See below). Arrange colours on a palette in a sequence similar to a colour wheel. Suggested colours are:

Aureolin Yellow (cool)
Indian Yellow (warm)
Permanent Red or Scarlet Lake (warm)
Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Rose (cool)
Ultramarine Blue (warm)
Cobalt Blue (mid)
Cerulean Blue Genuine (cool)

Additional optional colours:

Raw Sienna (yellow)
Burnt Sienna (rusty brown)
Indigo (very dark bluish-black)
Sap Green (yellow-green)
Cobalt Turquoise Light (milky opaque turquoise)
Quinacridone Gold
Quinacridone Burnt Orange
Perylene Green (very dark green)
I don’t recommend cadmium colours for beginners.

Palette:

White palette with large wells and a lid is best as it allows for true colours to be seen. (Robert Wood, Stephen Quiller, Mijello etc.).

Brushes:

Synthetic watercolour brushes (gold or white taklon).
1” flat wash brush
No. 3 or 4 Script or Rigger brush -long thin bristles
Round: No. 2 or 4, 6 or 8, 10 or 12

Paper:

Newsprint or cartridge paper for practicing brush strokes
Watercolour paper 100% cotton rag fibre, acid-free Arches 140 lb. cold press sheets 22" x 30" or Winsor Newton, Fabriano Artistico or similar
Cut the 22 x 30 “ paper into quarters.

Other Basic Supplies:

Painting boards (Plexiglas, Coroplast)
Two water containers (low, wide base)
Paper towels and Kleenex
Plastic palette knives (or old credit cards)
Masking tape
Salt (regular and coarse pickling)
Spray Bottles (little spritzer type from drug store)
Toothbrush
Drawing pencils and kneaded eraser (grey)
Sketchbook

Optional :

Masking fluid (Liquid Latex called Frisket, Miskit etc.)
Rubber Cement Pickup (for removal of masking fluid)

Watercolour for Absolute Beginners by Nancy Newman