Required Textbook | Painting in Watercolor | (2016) David Webb
ISBN: 1770857389
Recommended | The Watercolorist’s Essential Notebook
(2014) Gordon MacKenzie | ISBN: 1440337160
CLASS SCHEDULE | CLASS SYLLABUS | ART DEPT POLICIES
WEEK 1 | 1.17 – 19
OVERVIEW OF COURSE & SUPPLIES
Homework: Build Your Rig | Have for next class
Read: Ch. 1 | Tools & Materials
SUPPLIES we will cover | SEE FULL LIST ON RESOURCES PAGE
Paints | Watercolor vs Gouache | Pan vs Tube
Types of paint pallets
Brushes | Synthetic | Sable
Papers | Hot or Cold Press
Sketchbooks
WEEK 2 | 1.24 – 26
GETTING TO KNOW your PAINT & BRUSHES
PROJECT 1 | TECHNIQUES | TOOLS & PRACTICE
Spend time in your sketchbook getting to know your brushes & examining the paint
practice brush drills | create the following: color wheel | mixing chart
value chart (ref. pgs. 33-37 – these charts are needed for working on your paintings
DUE by 1.31
Read: Ch. 2 | Techniques
GETTING TO KNOW your PAINT & BRUSHES
PROJECT 1 | TECHNIQUES | TOOLS & PRACTICE
Spend time in your sketchbook getting to know your brushes & examining the paint
practice brush drills | create the following: color wheel | mixing chart
value chart (ref. pgs. 33-37 – these charts are needed for working on your paintings
DUE by 1.31
Read: Ch. 2 | Techniques
Color Mixing
https://youtu.be/ZapAEYqXOGI
Value
Color Wheel
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WEEKS 3 – 4 | 1.31 – 2.9
INTRO PROJECT 2 | NATURE STUDY | WORKING OUTSIDE
Explore campus. Photograph found nature species (flowers, plants, leaves etc.) We will work at an outside location. Create a COLOR INVENTORY from your photo. Generate at least 3 practice paintings in your sketchbook. Explore techniques from ch.2.
See how washes, mixing on paper, and glazing will work for your piece. Work w/ contrast, use your hue & contrast charts for reference. Complete a larger final painting of one of the comps from your sketchbook – min. 8”x10”
color inventory | practice | DUE 2.16
Read: Ch. 2 | Techniques
WEEKS 5 – 6 | 2.14 – 2.23
PROJECT 2 | CRITIQUE 2.16
final thought out composition – painting min. size 8″x10″ on high quality paper
INTRO PROJECT 3 | REFLECTION, GLASS, WATER, CONTRAST
Create a COLOR INVENTORY from a found reflective object. Choose an object that has transparency, reflection or both. You want an image with defined edges & strong contrasts or specific value areas. Examine monotones & varied color the object. Start with the darkest values – work your way to the light areas in your painting. Generate at least 3 practice paintings in your sketchbook. Think about washes, layering, values & keeping your whites. Complete a larger final painting from a comp in your sketchbook – min. 8”x10”
color inventory | practice | DUE by 3.2
Read: pp. 152 -157 | water pp. 158 -161 | reflections/glass pp. 180-181 | blog content
WEEKS 7 – 8 | 2.28 – 3.9
PROJECT 3 | CRITIQUE | 3.2
final thought out composition – painting min. size 8″x10″ on high quality paper
INTRO PROJECT 4 | CHROMATIC LANDSCAPE STUDY
Explore campus. Photograph an interesting building to work with. You may also choose to work from a found image. Recreate the scene using a very limited color pallet. Create a gray scale chart to work from. Work on creating a “mood” with the limited pallet (2 colors max). Consider washes & textures. Generate at least 2 practice paintings in your sketchbook. Complete a larger final painting of one of the comps from your sketchbook – min. 8”x10”
color inventory | practice | DUE color inventory | practice | DUE by 3.16
Read: pp. 130 – 162 | blog content
WEEK 9 | 3.14 – 3.16
PROJECT 4 | CHROMATIC STUDY | CRITIQUE | TBA
final painting min. size 8″x10″ on high quality paper |
WEEK 10 | 3.21 – 23 SPRING BREAK. – No CLASSES
POSSIBLE GUEST ARTIST: IRIS IRENE | Denver
WEEKS 11-16 | 3.28 – 5.11 |
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT | STUDIO
MASTER/REMASTER | ABSTRACTION | EXPLORATION
The remainder of the semester will be for personal development & production of
3 final pieces, subject & size of your choosing (min. size 16”x20”)
Areas of exploration could be:
MASTER – Investigate watercolor artists – historical or contemporary. Include examples of their work in your sketchbook along with notes considering composition, technique, & use of color. Choose one of the compositions from your research. Enlarge the image. Make a copy to concentrate on the values of the composition. Recreate the artists style, color, brushwork. Thematic approaches should be considered.
REMASTER – Choose 1 of your previous projects to revisit & rework at a larger size.
ABSTRACT – Work w/ an abstract painter of your choice, explore abstract forms to create a final piece.
EXPLORATION – Develop a piece – subject of your choosing to complete for the final critique. Consider, spacial effects, collage, special techniques & textures, explore using a story.
explore several practice paintings | at least 3 | choose final image to finish
DUE 5.11 CRITIQUE TBD | Ch. 3 & Ch. 5 | blog content
MSU DENVER ART 