Brenda Swenson Workshop: Negative Painting with Watercolor
March 6 - 9, 2023, 9am - 4pm daily
Discover the exciting results of negative painting with watercolor! Negative painting is the technique of painting around a subject (the negative space) to define it in the composition. Build your confidence in handling glazes, wet into wet, under-paintings and painting into wet passages. Strengthen your understanding of pigments and how they directly relate to the complexed medium of watercolor. During the workshop you’ll learn how to create interesting shapes and depth of color with transparent glazes. Strengthen a painting with overlapping, interlocking shapes and linkage. Students will benefit from daily demonstrations, friendly critiques, and one on one help.
Read more about Brenda's workshop experience HERE.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Mask Requirement:
Because the instructor is immunocompromised and her husband is post-surgery, she requires that students wear masks in the classroom during the ongoing pandemic. Agreement to this term is required at registration.
Supply List:
Palette with lots of room to mix paint or a separate white tray. I use the John Pike palette with 20 paint wells.
Paints: My colors aren’t mandatory. However you’ll want to avoid student grade paint that contains white or looks opaque. My paints are Daniel Smith Watercolors, unless noted with WN for Winsor Newton. I add and subtract paint colors from time to time.
- Yellows - Oranges: Hansa Yellow Medium, Raw Sienna (WN), Quinacridone Gold, Permanent Yellow Deep, Anthraquinoid Scarlet, Quinacridone Burnt Orange
- Reds: Perm. Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Rose, Burnt Sienna (WN)
- Violets: Imperial Purple
- Blues: French Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue, Manganese Blue Hue, Phthalo Blue (GS), Phthalo Blue Turquoise or Marine Blue
- Greens: Green Gold, Phthalo Green (BS), Cobalt Teal Blue
- Payne’s Gray: Any brand
Watercolor Paper: I use Arches 140lb. or Saunders 200lb. cold pressed. Precut watercolor paper 11x15 (6 pieces). Do not bring student grade paper or pads.
Brushes: Rounds size 6 to 14, Flats: Da Vinci, 5080 series, size: 20mm (3/4 inch) and 2 inch or larger brush for wetting paper. Stiff Brush for lifting.
Pencil & Eraser: B pencil. Kneaded & white eraser.
Miscellaneous Items: Board to support paper, tape or clips, paper towels, 2 water bowls, 3 small dishes (condiment size) and spray bottle.
Reference Photos: I provide reference photos that directly relate to each lesson. You’ll have an opportunity to use your own photos the last day. Any photograph reference you bring must be photographs taken by you. No images from magazines or catalogs (copyrighted material).
READ ABOUT THE CANCELLATION POLICY FOR THIS MAJOR WORKSHOP HERE.
