Flowers in Watercolour

• Sat 04 Jul
  One day, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM At Selwyn College, Auckland. Presenters: Andrew Ockleston
  

  • $125.00 incl. GST
  Session information

  Sessions

  Saturday workshop

  Sat 04 Jul 10:00 - Sat 04 Jul 16:00

  At Selwyn College, Auckland.
  Register
  Please note there is NO refund or transfer if you cancel less than 5 working days in advance of a class starting. Our refund policy can be read in full here.

Description

Designed for those with some painting experience, this workshop invites you to explore a fresh, contemporary approach to painting flowers. Moving beyond traditional botanical styles, you’ll learn how to capture the essence and energy of your subject through expressive brushwork, bold composition, and thoughtful use of tone.

Throughout the day, you’ll experiment with a range of watercolour techniques, including negative space painting, creating mood through tonality, and planning effective compositions. Guided drawing exercises will help you portray flowers from different angles and in natural groupings.

This is your opportunity to loosen up, trust the process, and bring more freedom and flow into your painting practice—while completing a finished floral artwork to take home.

Course outline

• Techniques and processes for starting a painting
• Thinking about composition and planning the final result
• Use negative space painting technique
• Practice drawing lessons for portraying flowers at different angles, and in bunches
• Tonality (mood)
• Completion of painting

Expected learning outcomes

• Learn a clear process to take a painting from beginning to end
• Gain control over composition
• Use edge variety as a way to enliven your painting
• Gain confidence to use colour boldly

Who should attend?

This course is best for those who have some experience with painting. It will focus more on developing existing skills and encourage a more adventurous style.

What to bring

Your lunch. We'll provide tea and coffee. All materials are included within the course fee.

Prerequisites

Best for people who have some experience of painting. This course will not teach the basics.

Testimonials

Hello Anne,

As you know, I have taken a variety of the applied art classes on offer through the Selwyn Community Education program in an attempt to "kick start" an art practice. Having studied art many, many years ago I had intended to pick it up again "later". Later is now. Lucky for me Selwyn offers a wide range of applied art classes. To get started I took a Basic Drawing class which dealt with basic techniques, materials and design. It was quite elementary and a good way to get started.

Drawing Birds with Soft Pastels was a very fun and lively class suitable for all. The tutor was welcoming and encouraging to all levels of experience and ability.

The Life Drawing class gave an introduction to several different approaches to drawing the human form. It was a  pleasure to have the opportunity to draw from a live model.

Abstraction and Pattern provided an opportunity to get a feel for using acrylic paints. After exercises using music to get a feel for patterns as expressed through the music, students were encouraged to jump right in and paint.

The Abstract Painting Workshop took a different approach. Some initial instruction regarding colour values and composition led to the hands-on portion of the class. Again, all levels of ability and experience were welcomed.

Flowers in Watercolour was fun but more challenging than I had expected. To achieve something that looks light and right is more difficult that it looks! However watercolour painting is more conducive to to pursuing at home as it can be done in a more limited space. I'll keep trying!

I'm looking forward to the upcoming Oil Painting Essentials to complete my reintroduction to various medium. Now its up to me. I am thankful that the Selwyn Community Education program has afforded me this opportunity to investigate and experiment with so many different approaches.

Helene T November 2023