Abstract Composition with Watermedia
Linda James
$320
March 11 - March 12
Sat, Su
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Online
Intermediate
There is no hard and fast formula for creating good abstract composition, but there are guidelines to help develop your critical perception of what works and what doesn’t. In this workshop, we will explore design principles that can bring a painting to life, using compositional tools that artists have deployed for centuries. Through group critiques, we will explore how these principles can be applied to your own work, giving you the solid foundation you need to continue your own explorations, long after the class is over. I will be doing all demos with watercolor, but you can participate with any watermedia. All classes are supplemented with slide presentations, demo recordings, handouts, and critiques.
Required Supplies
• Professional grade paints (watercolor, gouache, acrylic,etc.). Since this is a composition class and not a
color class, I am not requiring these colors (with the exception of Lamp Black). However, this list gives
you an idea of the range of color to have.
Aureolin, Hansa Yellow Light or Nickel Azo Yellow
Cadmium Yellow Light or Medium
Quinacridone Gold
Rose Madder Genuine (WN)
Cadmium Red Light or Medium
Permanent Rose (WN)
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Dioxazine Violet (Winsor Violet)
Cobalt Blue
French Ultramarine Blue
Phthalo (Winsor) Blue - green shade
Cobalt Turquoise Light (WN or Holbein)
Viridian
Hooker’s Green
Sap Green
Phthalo (Winsor) Green - blue shade
Burnt Sienna
Quinacridone Burnt Orange
Lamp Black (required)
• Brushes. I recommend mixed synthetic/natural hair brushes, but there are some good synthetic
brushes available and they tend to be more affordable. Just have a variety of sizes.
For example, a #8 round, a #3 or #4 round, a 3/4” flat and a 1-1/2” wash.
• Painting or drawing board large enough to hold an 11” x 15” sheet of paper
• A roll of 3/4 to 1” artist or painter’s tape (FrogTape, Blick Painters tape, etc.)
• An 18 well (or larger) white palette (porcelain is best, but pricey). Butcher trays are good as well as
porcelain saucers.
• A plastic spray bottle (I recommend Flairosol Spray Bottles)
• 3 water containers and paper towels
• A pencil and eraser
• 3-4 sheets of 22” x 30” 140# professional cold press (or hot press) watercolor paper (Arches, Fabriano,
Kilimanjaro, Lanaquarelle, Bockingford, etc)
• One 22” x 30” sheet 300# cold press watercolor paper - any professional brand (optional)
• 15” to 18” metal ruler and x-acto knife (recommended for cutting 300# paper) – also optional
• A hair dryer
• Scraps of watercolor paper (eg. backs of discarded paintings)
If you have any questions, email me at lindajamesart@gmail.com
Linda James
Linda James has been a visual artist for over 40 years. Over that time, she has applied...
