Materials

Please buy or prepare the following materials for class!

You may bring any painting media for this class but I will be using the following Gouache materials:

  • Watercolor paper, I like buying watercolor sketchbooks or blocks. Get a medium size, anywhere from 6x8 to 9x12 inches. I prefer hot press for the extra texture but cold press will work just as well.

  • Soft synthetic brushes, a mix of rounds and flats. Get at least one fine-liner/script brush

  • Water container

  • Paper towels or rag

  • Painter’s Tape

  • Pencil, Eraser and printer/sketch paper

  • Small spray bottle to keep paints wet. They sell convenient tiny ones at art stores that travel well.

  • Mixing surface (I use a white butcher tray which you can buy at most art stores)

Gouache Paints + (Brand)

  • Titanium White (Any)

  • Hansa Yellow (M Graham)

  • Winsor Red (Winsor & Newton)

  • Primary Magenta (Holbein)

  • Primary Cyan (Holbein)

  • Ultramarine Blue (Any)

  • Burnt Umber (Any)

  • Ivory Black (Any)

    *If you cannot find any particular color/brand please just get something similar. If these paints are too expensive or you just want something cheaper to start with (understandable) you can buy cheap gouache paint kits online like the one below. Google “himi gouache set” and buy one of those. The main difference is some of the colors are not lightfast compared to professional grade colors but the quality of the paint and consistency is actually very good for the price.

 
 


Gouache Landscape Sketching

Dates TBA

All levels Welcome

Class Summary

Through this course you will learn everything you need to know to make full-color landscape sketches. Landscape sketches are perfect to use as references for more finished works, or as finished art in their own right! Gouache is an accessible, portable medium that is easy bring with you on plein air adventures or travels!

No previous painting experience is required.

Format

The 2 hours before class begins I will hold “office hours” where you will receive 1 on 1 critiques and draw-overs in photoshop based on the previous week’s homework. A 15 min time-slot will be available during this time to each student every week. The first week’s office hours will be dedicated to introductions and reference review.

You are encouraged but not required to paint along with class demonstrations. All critiques, lectures, and demos are recorded and available to download later at your convenience.

Syllabus

Week 1 Slide lecture of landscape paintings and a look through Conner’s personal sketchbooks. Demo on materials, linear sketching, and learning to manipulate paint for different effects. (Washes and gradients, solid passages, textures etc.)

Week 2 Lecture on seeing values accurately and its importance in landscape. Demo of value sketching.

Week 3 Lecture on the components of color and slide examples of creative color usage in paintings. Demo on color constancy and color sketching.

Week 4 Slide lecture and demo on painting trees, foliage and clouds.

Week 5 Lecture on the basics of perspective. Demo of building sketch and how to perspective practically in our sketches.

Week 6 Lecture and demo on the basics of composition and how to manipulate photo reference or reality for artistic purposes

Refunds

Please contact me at least 1 week before class for a full refund. No refunds can be given after this deadline. Transfers to other classes may be possible.