Ticket
Paid event
Time
 -  (GMT)
Location
Online - London, United Kingdom

Organised by The Guardian

Empowering and playful online workshop, which will show you how to embrace the art of watercolour in all its imperfect glory.

If 2020 was the year of picking up new hobbies or refreshing old ones, let this one be the year we do away with notions of ‘perfectionism’ and being ‘wholly together’, and instead embrace playfulness, curiosity and imperfection.

If this sounds enticing to you, now might be the time to get your creative juices flowing and experiment with the art of watercolour in a playful, nourishing online workshop for beginners. Illustrator Katie Rose Johnston will lead you through this sophisticated but laid-back class, which will teach you how to challenge your fears of the dreaded blank page, release expectations of the paint, and discover your own unique ways of communicating with watercolour.

You will also receive pre-course materials, which features some of Katie’s advice for approaching watercolour playfully and with curiosity, how to layer your coloured and shapes to build texture, and how to compose your watercolour painting.

Ultimately, you will learn that rather than a twee, decorative artform, watercolour can open new realms of creative possibility - and in this workshop, you will unlock reserves of skill, concentration and playfulness that can be applied to other areas of your life. If that isn’t a good attitude for embracing the Spring season, we don’t know what is.

Course Content

  • Setting up your workspace: watercolour papers, paint types, brushes and masking fluids
  • Colour palettes: a discussion
  • Intuition: practice playful mark making to embrace the unpredictability of watercolour
  • Using the brush: making simple motifs and shapes through brushwork and muscle memory
  • Letting the paint do the work: experiment with wet-on-wet techniques, blending, tone, and structure
  • Layering: learn the most vital skill in watercolour and how to apply it
  • Composing an image: how to use pencil to work out proportions and build a final composition
  • Finding your style: avoiding cliché, work on your own painting to figure out a style that reflects your unique way of using watercolour

This course is for ...

  • Beginners who have an interest in - or some understanding of - watercolour, and would like to experiment with painting in a playful but intelligent setting.
  • Anyone who would like to learn new watercolour techniques and start developing their own style of painting.
  • No technical expertise is required, just a willingness to learn. Please be aware no art materials are included in the ticket price of this masterclass, but only very basic paints, brushes and paper are needed for the practical exercises.

You will be sent a link to the webinar 2hrs before the start time of 2pm (GMT).

Tutor Profile

Katie Rose Johnston is a London-based illustrator, designer and watercolour painter. Using traditional media to tackle subjects both classic and modern, her often playful designs are informed by a characteristic sense of humour and a love of bold colour. Her illustrations and designs have been used across advertising, publication and music by international clients, including Penguin and Universal Music. Alongside her illustration work, Katie teaches a regular programme of watercolour workshops. An ethos of play and inclusivity is at the heart of her approach, which is centred on using painting as a means of mental well-being. See her website here.

You will be sent a link to the webinar 2hrs before the start time of 2pm (GMT).

Course Details
Date: Saturday 13 November 2021
Time: 2pm-4.30pm (GMT)
2 pm GMT | 3pm CET | 7am PDT | 10am EDT

Organisers

Attendees — 7

 -  (GMT)
Master watercolour: An online workshop with Katie Rose JohnstonLondon, United Kingdom