Join David on a Watercolor Journey, learning the most valuable watercolor concepts and techniques. This workshop will save you countless hours of trial & error by demonstrating approaches in an easily understood manner that will open new doors of discovery and creativity. Participants will have access to reference photos, drawing guides, typed outlines, and step-by-step instruction through all stages of the painting process. Regardless of your level of experience, you’re almost guaranteed to leave with a handsome work of art, and the skills, concepts, and confidence to take your paintings to a higher level. David will demonstrate a wide variety of techniques, including “wet-on-wet,” “splattering,” “spraying,” and how to link shapes in a composition based on values, while also learning about edge quality of shapes, the importance of different consistencies of paint, and the different moisture qualities of paper—concepts and approaches that will keep your paintings fresh with exciting blends and textures, and keep you inspired and eager to explore your new watercolor capabilities long into the future.
David R. Smith Workshop Supplies List
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• Usual Supplies: palette, water container, masking tape, clips, towels, Kleenex, large spray
bottle, hair dryer, pencil/eraser, etc. IF you have an iPad/tablet, it can be used to display
reference photos.
• High quality paper (Arches, Fabriano Artistico, Hahnemuhle, etc.). I will most likely use
140# Rough Fabriano Artistico, though Arches 140# cold press will work as well and
might be a bit easier to control. Have at least 5 quarter sheets (11x15). For a couple of the
exercises, you may choose inexpensive practice paper instead if you’d like.
• Highly recommend Craftsmart/MonaLisa Graphite Paper or Loew Cornell Gray Transfer
Paper (can buy at Michaels art & craft store, JoAnn Fabric, or online) and a colored
ballpoint pen (red works well).
• Professional Brand Tube Paint: Your choice of colors, but have some form of the
primaries: Yellow, Red, Blue, and a dark such as Indigo or Payne’s Gray.
On my palette: Winsor Lemon or Bismuth Vanadate Yellow (QoR), Cadmium Yellow,
Quinacridone Gold, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Thalo Blue, Cobalt Teal
(QoR), Alizarin Crimson, Winsor Red or Joe’s Red, Opera (Holbein), Viridian, Sap Green, Raw
Umber, Burnt Sienna, Lavender (Holbein), Dioxazine Purple, Indigo, Neutral Tint, White
Gouache, Dr. Ph Martin’s Bleed Proof White.
*I underlined the above colors I use most often.
• Brushes: A variety of rounds and flats will probably work fine. I recommend a Large
Round or Mop brush with a nice point. If you’re curious, I typically use a variety of
Synthetic Brushes: Escoda Round (Perla) size 12. Faux Squirrel 1827 Liner Aux.
Reservoir size 12 (Dynasty). A 1.5” Flat Brush (Miller’s Pseudo Sable Mottler), and a
variety of large rounds and mops. There are many options. A couple of my favorites are
the Princeton Aqua Elite Quill #6, and the Escoda Prado (size 16).
• Optional: Brushes for lifting: #4 & #16 Fritch Scrubber (Cheap Joe) and the #2 Artisan
Short Flat/Bright long handled (Winsor & Newton). Magic Eraser.
• 2 Paint Boards: The board dimensions should be larger than the sheet of paper, which
will be 11x15.
• For part of the process, we will work at a slant. So, a table easel may come in handy or
you may simply prop one end of your painting board up on a tissue box or something.
• Utility knife and an inexpensive rectangular Cellulose Cleaning Sponge (without the
abrasive green scrubbing material) you can find at a grocery store.