Watercolour Painting Now

Watercolour Painting Now

This course is ideal if you wish to immerse yourself in the fascinating medium of watercolour.

You’ll be trying out new ideas and new ways of working, and ultimately developing a personal approach to your painting.

Whilst ostensibly a practical course, the subject is underpinned by theory and art historical references.

The course will begin with a brief overview of the tradition of watercolour.

However, the focus will soon shift to contemporary uses of watercolour, and artists using this medium will be explored and researched.

On this course, you will:

• cover the basic tenets and processes of watercolour; wet-into-wet, wet-into-dry and washes
• undertake colour mixing exercises and apply paint through traditional methods using brushes, before moving on to more inventive mark-making with splattering and stippling
• be encouraged to assemble images and identify your own potential subject matter
• be asked to look closely and respond to your own environment and cultural experience when undertaking a project.

Typically (though not rigidly) the course follows this structure:

1: Tools for watercolour explored, including papers, paints and brushes / Observational work

2: Colour-mixing know-how and applying washes / Layering techniques

3: Experimental techniques, such as drips, spatters and lifting out / Individual project work – the opportunity to assimilate techniques explored on the course

4: Graphic tools to sample (provided by tutor) such as Faber-Castell pens, ink, Quink and Inktense pencils / Gouache / Individual project development

5: Individual project development / Review of your individual project as ‘work in progress’ / Evaluation of your personal ways forward with watercolour.

What will you gain?

By the end of the course, you will have created a portfolio of new, innovative work.

You will have an appreciation for watercolour paint and painters, and ideas for new projects to continue with into the future.

Here's what some of our previous attendees have said:

"Margot is a very personable, experienced and organised artist and tutor." PD

"A structured yet informal environment, with a great tutor. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will do more." LW

"I found the colour mixing brilliant and paramount to my work." CG

"Excellent venue, the studio was superb and a first class tutor. A fabulous course." JR

"I really enjoyed this course and feel like I learned lots. Margot was a very supportive and inspirational teacher. Having access to the NTU library was great too." PL

Here is some of our previous attendees' work in progress:

Tutor Profile: Margot Shores has taught drawing and painting at the Royal Academy as well as schools and various universities and colleges.

In addition to her BA and MA in Fine Art she has a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training.

Margot’s expertise lies in providing a studio situation in which everyone can achieve their individual goals. She specialises in experiential learning and questioning to enhance students creativity, offering a platform from which students own art can be launched.

As a practicing fine artist she focuses on drawing and painting whilst undertaking commissions and exhibiting her work nationally.

Need accommodation for the summer?

You can book a self-catered, single room with private bathroom on our city campus, right next door to our studios and classrooms. Accommodation can be booked online via the course homepage.