Oct 10-11, 5-Step Process Watercolor Mastery Workshop

*Early bird registration now open!

This is a 2-day intensive workshop designed for beginner and intermediate watercolorists who want to learn how to loosen up and to elevate their composition and design skills. The 5-Step Process Workshop teaches you how to construct your compositions and to distill your subjects by understanding shapes, contrasts and values, and to paint such shapes with loose and expressive brushstrokes. 

What’s valuable about the course

Masterful paintings are not a result of high technical skills or fancy tricks, rather, the essence of the subjects captured through simple shapes and suggestive brushstrokes that say a lot with very little. 

As opposed to learning the techniques or painting after the teacher, in this workshop, you will bring your own photos/subjects to the table, use the 5-Step framework to observe, interpret and paint your subjects multiple times, each time revealing new knowledge about your subjects, the shapes at hand, and how to strategically utilize different tools – brushworks, colors and watercolor effects – to paint the subjects beautifully. 

You will learn the fundamentals of composition and design, different visual treatments in watercolor and where to apply them, but more importantly, you will walk away with the confidence and a systemic mindset to tackle any subjects of your choosing, rather than copying a tutorial or painting after the teacher.

Agenda overview:

• Prior to the workshop, please select 2-3 reference images you'd like to paint. You will get an email before the workshop to send these assets to me.
• Day 1 will be focused on understanding contrast and values, distilling subjects into simple shapes and color theory (in the context of maintaining contrast and values).
• Day 2 will be focused on elevating your painting by introducing special effects, bold brushstrokes, textures and pushed colors.
• Each day is a full day class with 6 hrs of instruction, plus breaks. Logistic info will be sent to students 1-2 weeks before the class
• Early bird pricing and cancellation deadline: September 12.

How is this workshop different from your 5-Step Online Course?

While this workshop is based on my signature online course and YouTube video "5-Step Process", it provides more in-depth, hands-on instructions than the digital version.

1️⃣ You’ll receive comprehensive instruction and personalized coaching to help you fully absorb the methodology, see it play out in real life scenarios, and learn how to tackle exception cases and unique situations.

2️⃣ It is more flexible than the online version which has you paint your subject 5 times. For the in-person workshop, the process of "getting there" will be more elastic and tailored to your needs. Certain steps may be compressed or skipped, while others are expanded, based on where we have the most difficulty with a given subject. 

Supplies

Please note that no supplies are included except for watercolor paper. Students are required to bring the following items to ensure they can fully participate and benefit from the class:

Brushes

• 1 large round or quill brush (~0.5 inches in diameter) for applying washes
• 1 small round or quill brush (~0.125 inches in diameter) or a rigger brush for fine details
• If you are looking for a quill brush, check out my recommendations in this article. 

Palette

• Any palette is fine, as long as it includes a generous mixing area

Drawing tools

• 2B or softer pencil
• Eraser

Watercolor paints

• Burnt Sienna
• French Ultramarine Blue
• Alizarin Crimson
• Yellow Ochre
• Cadmium Yellow
• Cadmium Red

Other essentials

• Rag or old towel for soaking up excess water
• Cup or jug for clean water
• (Optional) Easel or portable painting surface