SUNDAY WORKSHOP. April 5th (Easter Sunday). Exploring colour and tone with watercolour.

11 minutes ago
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In this workshop we'll make use of magazine images to explore and match both the colours and the tones we find. Lighter colours will be created by using more water to pigment, thereby allowing the white of our watercolour paper to dictate the lightness of the colour.

You’ll need watercolours & watercolour brushes, good watercolour paper and a landscape/garden/art magazine (although I’ll have lots of these). You’ll also need a good glue stick (Pritt Stick or similar) and some scissors.

We’re going to explore colour and tone through experimentation using scraps and images from magazines.

· Cut a sample from a multi-colourful image in your magazine (approx. 3 or 3 inches in any dimension) and stick it well on your page with plenty of space around it.

· One by one, try to extract the colours you see and repeat them around the sample. Think about the tone (light or dark?) and, using water to lighten colours (NOT white paint!) create the light a well as darker toned colours.

You might find it helpful to describe the colours such as ‘warm’ ‘cool’ ‘earthy’ 'neutral' ‘bright’ etc. as this helps you think about how to match a colour with your paint mixes.

Next cut three or four unrelated samples from your magazine in approx. 3 x 1 inch rectangles and stick them in a row with a space beside each one of the same size.
Repeat the image on the left in the space to the right. Work in layers – pale layers make the more overall shapes. Details come later once the initial layers are dry.

Now find a complete image (such as a landscape, a painting, a flower picture) and divide it similarly into four or five strips. Stick them to your page with a same size space beside each section. Repeat the image in the space to the right of the sample. Work with the simpler, lighter layers first, darker details later. You’re looking for colours and tones as well as shapes. Don’t be over precise – create a feeling.

Next workshop: May 24th 2026