Introduction to Watercolor with Paul Pietsch

Class | Currently Unavailable

2129 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20008 United States
Room 2A
Beginner
9/24/2025-12/3/2025
6:30 PM-9:30 PM EDT on Wed
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$525.00

Introduction to Watercolor with Paul Pietsch

Class | Currently Unavailable

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.

  • WSS is closed the week of Thanksgiving, all classes will conclude the first week of December.

  • Materials List - These are the materials you will need to bring with you for this class.


    Watercolor Paint (Be sure to buy watercolor paint and not gouache paint, which are often next to each other at the art store.)


    Yellows

    • Cadmium Yellow Medium (warm yellow)

    • Aureolin Yellow OR Lemon Yellow (cool yellow)


    Reds

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

    • Alizarin Crimson (cool red)


    Blues

    • French Ultramarine Blue (warm blue)

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


    Greens

    • 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 


    Students should have at least:


    • 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