WILD COAST TREES

Only $67.00

 
 

Hello tree lovers!

I’m so happy to be your teacher for Wild Coast Trees. Here on wild and beautiful Vancouver Island, I’m surrounded by a coastal temperate rainforest. There are stunning cedars, sitka spruce, douglas firs and shore pines in the forests that meet the edges of the sea. Whether is a rainy day or the sunshine is sparkling off of the waves, I take pleasure in gazing at the windswept trees when I’m out walking or meditating at the beach. For me, trees represent strength, interconnectedness, resilience, and grace.

In this mixed media class, we will focus on the beautiful and unique characteristics of coastal trees. Working with the image of a tree, in different projects, using a variety of media, gives us the opportunity to play, iterate and evolve. You will learn how to create with watercolour, pearlescent colours, Neocolor II water-soluble pastels, technical pens, and collage on paper and wood panel in these lessons.

Join me for a creative adventure on the wild coast!



 
 
““Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.””
— Kahlil Gibran
 

Class Is Open

Only $67.00

{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }

Here's a description of each of our special projects:

WARMup lesson : DISCOVER THE WILD COAST

Let’s capture the unique character and qualities of wild, west coast trees. In these drawing exercises, we will balance what we observe - from real life or reference imagery - with intuitive, playful expression. I will introduce you to a variety of my favourite technical pens, paint pens and pencils, teaching you how each drawing tool can be used to express trees with character and feeling. Working in our sketchbook, we will loosen up, explore and discover our mark-making style through tree imagery. We will also prepare the pages of an old book to use as a sketchbook for our ongoing drawing practice.

 

Lesson 1 : ROOTED

Step into the heart of the sunlit forest with this lesson. Trees are rooted and deeply connected to the other flora and fauna of the forest. A tree can be a symbol reminding us of our own interconnectedness. Trees call us to consider our roots and reflect on what nourishes, supports and sustains us. We will begin with developing our colour scheme and then we will create a soft background with watercolour paint and Neocolor II pastels. Next we will draw our feature tree in pencil and paint a shimmering, life-giving sun.

 

Lesson 2 : INTO THE RAIN COAST

Rain is a central character in the drama of this wild coast. The storms roll in for days or weeks at a time, with fog or clouds hanging low to the tree tops. I’ve learned to appreciate the beauty of the darker, moody days.  In this lesson we will create a strong, silhouetted tree set in the fog on a background of collected and hand-painted collage papers. You will learn how to prepare a wood panel, paint simple and compelling marks on your collage papers, plan your composition and draw your feature tree and fog with Stabilo All pencils. 

 

Lesson 3 :  WINDSWEPT

The wind and tides bring beautiful movement to the estuary, shaping the trees and landscape. Using the collage papers we created in lesson two and gesso, we will create to create a textured background in our old book. Then we will use a black Stabilo All pencil and paint brush to draw windswept trees, and Neocolor II pastels colour the sky and create layers of movement in the estuary. We will finish by adding some shimmer with pearlescent watercolour, and reflect on the landscape with journal writing on the opposing page. 

 

bonus lesson :  TREES BY THE SEA

There is a body of water surrounding the Comox Peninsula, where I live, called the Salish Sea. I spend many hours walking or running through the forest to the sea, and swimming or paddling in the local waters. The gorgeous, changing moods and colours of the sea and sky inspire me. In this bonus lesson we will paint meditative wet-into-wet watercolour ocean backgrounds and then use our discoveries and skills from the warm-up to add drawings of seaside trees using pens.

 

Class Is Open

Only $67.00

{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }

 

Who is this class for?

Trees offer us visual inspiration and also metaphors for us to contemplate in relation to our own lives. If you love trees and would like develop your drawing practice and learn mixed media techniques that you can continue using for years to come, this is the class for you. 

 

HERE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF NICOLE's WORK

 

Class Is Open

Only $67.00

{ LIFETIME ACCESS & DOWNLOADABLE VIDEOS }

 
 

SUPPLIES LIST

These are the materials I will be using in class. I recommend watching the lessons first to see what supplies you already have, and what you’d like to add to your collection. Please note that some colours are mentioned as options but don’t have to be used - feel free to mix your own or substitute your favourites!

 
 

Substrates:

Daniel Smith Watercolour paints:

  • Yellow Ochre - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

  • Burnt Sienna - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

  • Sap Green - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

  • Spring Green - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

  • Cascade Green - Daniel Smith Extra Fine 

  • Indanthrone Blue - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

  • Quinacridone Sienna - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

  • Verditer Blue - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

  • Ultramarine Blue - Daniel Smith Extra Fine

Other Watercolour paints:

Neocolor II Water-soluble Wax Pastels:

  • Moss 

  • Jade Green

  • Olive

  • Light Olive 

  • Olive Brown

  • Payne’s Grey

  • Light Cobalt Blue Hue

  • Turquoise Blue

  • Sky Blue

  • White

  • Beige

  • Brown

Brushes:

  • #12 flat brush - Plain One Stroke Donna Dewberry

  • Synthetic round watercolour brushes: #14, #6, #10, #0 - Opus Art Supplies

  • Synthetic watercolour brushes: #6 round, #1 rigger - WonderForest

  • Small round and flat brush to use with pearlescent colours

  • Acrylic brushes: 1/2”, 1”, 2” - Opus Art Supplies

Pencils & Pens:

Other Supplies: