Hello my wonderful creatives!

I am excited to share with you some of my techniques I use when creating expressive portraits.  I love painting faces and flowers so I thought this pairing would be perfect for a class. I also love to share my techniques for these challenging subjects. We will work mainly in watercolor.  I will show you how I add other elements to my work to create unique mixed media pieces.  I will also show you how working in various styles will help you develop and improve your skills for painting portraits.  This class will be enjoyed by all skill levels.

Take a walk outside, sit down beside a garden and run your fingers through the dirt.  This is called “grounding”.  Grounding is an exercise that allows you to be more authentically in your body, in the present, and receive nourishing energy.  I believe we receive these same benefits when creating art. Gather your art supplies and let’s get “Grounded in the Garden” together.

Natalie

Warmup & lesson 1 - Whimsical Portrait

We will create a beautiful warm up where we collect our ideas and plan out our painting.  Then we will paint a beautiful whimsical portrait, adding a fabulous bouquet of flowers in her hair. This is a fun and unique mixed media piece.

Lesson 2 - Fairy Garden

In this lesson we will create our own version of a fairy garden.  This painting has mixed media elements as well, though they are a bit more hidden.

Lesson 3 - The Wonder of Everyday

In this lesson I will show you how I use a reference photo to create a likeness of my subject.  This realistic portrait is done with a limited palette.  This gives students the opportunity to learn how to mix a wide range of color from only a few base colors.

• Various mixed media techniques

• How to achieve color balance

• How to use various supplies to enhance your watercolors

• Color theory

• The value of practice

• How to use a reference photo to achieve a likeness

• How to draw a face without a reference photo

• Understanding the difference of watercolor papers and the qualities they bring to your art

• So much more…

Supply List

It’s not my intention that you purchase all the supplies and many can easily be substituted with things you have.

Watercolors*

• Daniel Smith Watercolor Paints

  Hansa Yellow Med., Phthalo Yellow Green, Fushite, Ultramarine Blue, Quinacridone Purple, Burnt Umber, Undersea Green, Quinacridone Rose, Rhodonite, Indian Yellow, Shadow Violet, Manganese Blue, Amazonite, Phthalo Yellow Green, Prussian Green, Burnt Umber, Duo Artic Fire

• Winsor and Newton Watercolor Paints

  Winsor Yellow, Permanent Rose, Permanent Sap Green, Cerulean Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna

• Basic drawing supplies

• Basic painting supplies

• Watercolor paper

  • I use Arches hot pressed for lessons 1 and 2, and cold pressed for lesson 3

• Tracing paper

• Stamps and ink pads

• Colored pencils that coordinate with your paint colors

  • I use Faber Castell brand, the colors I prefer for flesh tones are; Light Flesh, Medium Flesh, Dark Flesh, Walnut brown, Indanthrene blue

• Matte Medium or some other kind of adhesive like double sided tape or glue

• Masking fluid

• Scrapbook paper