Introduction to Watercolor with Paul Pietsch

Introduction to Watercolor with Paul Pietsch

Class | Available

2129 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 United States
Room 3A
Beginner
4/11/2025-6/13/2025
10:00 AM-1:00 PM EDT on Fri
Download iCalendar
$495.00

Introduction to Watercolor with Paul Pietsch

Class | Available

This course will introduce watercolor as a medium and a process, focusing on its unique

attributes as well as strategies for using them in a personalized way. The course begins with

explorations of watercolor properties and painting techniques before focusing on assignments

that encourage individual development. Skills and concepts addressed will include:

 

• Understanding watercolor pigments, tools and surfaces

• Building transparent, translucent and opaque layers of color

• Color vocabulary and mixing strategies

• Using the white of the paper

• Balancing the unexpected with the controlled

• Basic composition.

 

Students will work from photographs, still life setups and figure models.

 

The ultimate goal of the course is not to teach students how to paint in a particular way, but

rather to enable students to develop a competency in the medium that facilitates their own

artistic explorations.

 

While previous drawing or painting experience is helpful, it is not a prerequisite. The class is

designed for people who are new to watercolor as well as those with some experience.

  • Watercolor Paint (Be sure to buy watercolor paint and not gouache paint, which are often next

    to each other at the art store.)


    • Cadmium Yellow Medium (warm yellow)

    • Aureolin Yellow OR Lemon Yellow (cool yellow)

    • Cadmium Red Medium OR Cadmium Red Light (warm red)

    • Alizarin Crimson (cool red)

    • French Ultramarine Blue (warm blue)

    • Phthalo Blue Green Shade (cool blue)…Winsor & Newton sells this color as “Winsor

    • Blue Green Shade.”

    • Phthalo Green Yellow Shade (warm green)…Winsor & Newton sells this color as

    • “Winsor Green Yellow Shade”

    • Viridian (cool green)


    Students may use either watercolor sets OR individual tubes of paint:


    For watercolor sets, a set with 12 or more color should have cool and warm versions of

    yellow, red, blue and green. (Recommended brands: Winsor & Newton, Sennelier,

    Daniel Smith, Schmincke and Holbein.)


    For watercolor tubes, 5ml. tubes are sufficient and PALETTES ARE NECESSARY for

    storing and mixing colors. (Recommended palettes: Mijello Fusion Airtight palette and

    John Pike Palette. Recommended brands of paint: Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher,

    Hobein, Sennelier, Schmincke, Old Holland or Utrecht Artists’ Watercolors.)


    Watercolor Paper


    Students may use individual sheets of watercolor paper OR watercolor blocks. They don’t need

    to buy both. (Recommended brands: Arches and Fabriano.)

    IF using individual sheets, buy 3 sheets of 22” x 30” (140 lb.) cold press watercolor

    paper (natural white or bright white)

    IF using a watercolor block, buy 1 block of 9” x 12” or larger (140 lb.) cold press

    watercolor paper (natural white or bright white).


    Watercolor Brushes


    1 flat watercolor brush (3/4” or 1” wide; sable or natural bristle are recommended, but

    nylon bristles are OK)

    1 round watercolor brush (size #8; sable or natural bristle are recommended, but nylon

    bristles are OK)

    Other Supplies


    • 2 containers for water at least 1 pint or larger in volume (empty yogurt containers work

    well)

    • 1 pencil (HB or #2)

    • 1 sketchbook or scrap paper for planning compositions

    • Paper towels

    • IF USING INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF PAPER INSTEAD OF A WATERCOLOR BLOCK

    1 roll of masking or blue painters tape (1” or wider)…available at art store or

    hardware store

    • 1 drawing board (at least 15” long in smallest dimension)

Paul Pietsch