Watercolor Toolbox: Basic Essentials for Artists
July 20 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
$362.00An 4-Week In-Studio Workshop!
Sundays, July 20, 27, August 3, and 10, 1-4pm
View our current in-studio Health and Safety and Cancellation Policies >>
About this Workshop:
Watercolor is distinct and very different from other painting mediums. This workshop will provide a basic introduction to the medium, including materials and mixing methods, to build student confidence in how watercolor can be applied in their personal artistic endeavors.
Students will have an opportunity to practice multiple methodologies and demystify handling of the medium in the first two sessions. In the final session, students will be encouraged to bring in a piece of their own work to the workshop to discuss appropriate approaches and troubleshoot possible issues. Examples can include prints, books, sketchbooks, and drawings.
Level: All levels – great for beginners or more experienced artists looking to reinforce their foundations in color theory and mixing.
Registration closes July 16, 2025. Material fees are included with your registration to cover the supplies provided in class. Students will need to gather/purchase additional materials for class (see the materials list below). This list will also be provided with the registration confirmation email.
Sample images by Jenny Walton
CLASS MATERIALS LIST:
Registration includes a $45 materials fee to cover consumable materials provided in class, including a watercolor paint starter set, additional tools, additives, tape, and a sampler pack of additional watercolor paper options to experiment with. Students will need to supply additional materials of their own, including:
- Watercolor brushes: 2 rounds (#2 & #8), at least one flat (#4 and/or #10), #8 Mop/wide flat for washes. If purchasing new, some good starter sets include: Kolinsky 8 pcs Sable Brush Set and Rembrandt Series I Travel Set of 6 both have a nice variety of brush sizes.
- Extra watercolor palette (keep in mind portability) that has a lid that can also be used for mixing. Here’s one example; and another that’s set-up for pans if want to expand upon your starter kit.
- 1 small Watercolor Paper Block, 100% cotton – recommended sampler pack with three textures
- 1 Canson XL Watercolor Pad, 9”x12”
- Watercolor masking fluid: bottle with brush or pen version
- Rubber cement eraser
- Artist Tape, .5” roll
- Fillable water brush, at least one medium or larger. Here’s a great set with a variety of tips
- Spray bottle or water mister – can be a handheld bottle. But it must be water-use only (no other liquids) or brand new.
- 3H or 2H pencil and eraser
The following materials are Optional for this course:
- Watercolors – Your registration includes a small starter set, but you are welcome to bring sets/tubes you may already have on hand to supplement the kit and/or ask questions about during class.*
- Tackle box for organizing and transporting paints and brushes
- Painting smock or apron (we’ll have extras)
- Personal hair dryer (to speed up drying times)
- An old (cleaned!) or new, inexpensive toothbrush
- Any sheets of watercolor paper in hot or cold press, 140 lb or higher, from your personal stash you’d like to use
- 1 roll of Viva paper towels or Blue Shop towels (better absorbency)
- Drawing board or other hard surface for stretching and propping watercolor paper
- Personal ruler
- Recommended reading: A Complete Guide to Watercolor by Ray Smith and Elizabeth Jane Lloyd. Published by DK Publishing, 2002 ed. ISBN-10: 0789487985, ISBN-13: 978-0789487988
- (for Day 4) Any project you’d like to work on in class to help troubleshoot and receive advice on. This could be a painting in progress, a new work, a print you’d like to add color too, etc.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Jenny Walton holds a BFA from Central Washington University and an MFA from American University (D.C. and Italy). Walton has shown nationally in New York, Miami, Boston, and Seattle and internationally in Italy. She was awarded an Artistic Fellowship from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities among several other grants and residencies including Vermont Studio Center, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center and Hamilton Princess, Bermuda. She has been critically published in several catalogs and articles and her work is held in several distinguished private and public collections. She lives and works in the Washington D.C. area. Learn more about her work at www.jennywaltonart.com.