Adventures with Watercolor Techniques

Adventures with Watercolor Techniques taught by Karen Van Gamper

When:  March 14 & 15, 10 AM - 4 PM

Where:  Arts Center of the Arts Council of Carteret County, 1702 Arendell MHC

Cost:  $250

Intermediate Level

Class Minimum 3/ Maximum 10

Bring nibbles to share, instructor will provide small sandwiches

The focus of this class will be on experimentation and technique. Our goal will be learning to use the looseness of transparent watercolor. Artists will save their whites, and move from light wash to pouring technique, while mixing colors and creating interest with textures. The methods will include blotting and lifting, dry brush and spatter textures, and salt technique. An easy subject will be provided by the instructor.

Instructor Supplied Materials:

Rock Salt, Liquid mask eraser, pipettes for pouring technique

Student Material List:

Sketch pad, mechanical pencil and pink eraser, 18” ruler,

Watercolor Block (12” x 18”), Palette or Butchers Tray, water container

spray bottle, sponges, paper towel and Kleenex, 6 sm. containers with lids, several watercolor brushes including detail, medium rounds & 1” or 2” flat brushes. The #6 Winsor & Newton water color sable pointed round is especially useful.

Watercolor Paints

It is not important that students use the same colors. However, it is essential students have 2 light, 2 medium and 2 dark of all primary colors. Most professional brands are interchangeable and include Holbein, Windsor Newton, and Daniel Smith. The American Journey watercolors from Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff are excellent.

Watercolor Paints: here are a few colors I include on my palette

Cerulean Blue, Yellow Ocher,  Sepia, Ultramarine, Golden Yellow, Burnt Umber,

Turquoise, Cadmium Yellow,  New Gamboge, Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Scarlet, Hooker’s Green,

Janet’s Violet, Quinacridone Rust, Sap Green, Payne’s Gray, Cadmium Red, and Viridian

Please join me for an enjoyable class with new and old watercolor techniques, and a resulting painting with dramatic

effects. The bold and beautiful designs will inspire and captivate you with interesting ways to depict everyday subjects.

About the instructor, Karen Van Gamper:  I was born in Michigan, having attended Albion College and U of M, earning both BA and MA degrees in art education.  I was active on the boards of the Michigan Watercolor Society and the Watercolor Society of North Carolina for many years.  In Michigan I served as the Traveling Exhibition Chairman for 25 years, arranging a year-long schedule of traveling exhibitions for the Watercolor Society.

When my husband retired as a designer for Chrysler Corp, we sailed our boat to Oriental, NC, where we love the gorgeous location with an active sailing community.  It is the perfect place to paint water scenes and nautical subjects.  I am thoroughly immersed in the arts, with membership in the Carolina Artist Gallery in Morehead City, and the Village Gallery in Oriental. I love sharing art concepts and learning new techniques in painting.  I look forward to sharing art experiences with students in my "Adventures with Watercolor Techniques" class in March.