430 Beginning Watercolor
Irvine Valley College: 2018-current
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a beginning-level watercolor painting course that introduces methods, techniques, and concepts in watercolor. Focus will be on building technical skills, developing compositional perception, and self-expression with a class goal of creating a show which includes a painting from each student. The instructor will conduct demonstrations and technical exercises to familiarize students with processes related to water media on paper. Students will perform exercises to develop brush skills, learn studio practices, and cultivate a sense of personal expression.
This is a beginning-level watercolor painting course that introduces methods, techniques, and concepts in watercolor. Focus will be on building technical skills, developing compositional perception, and self-expression with a class goal of creating a show which includes a painting from each student. The instructor will conduct demonstrations and technical exercises to familiarize students with processes related to water media on paper. Students will perform exercises to develop brush skills, learn studio practices, and cultivate a sense of personal expression.
Course Objectives:
- Introduce you to watercolor paint and its possibilities.
- Introduce different approaches to generating creative ideas.
- Encourage your personal expression
- Keep challenging the class
- Strive for high standards in creating ones’ work
Student Samples
Folded Paper: Gradient, Planes,Contrast
Fold a sheet a paper (can crumble). Put under a single light and using your gradation scale, map out the shades. Use a dark color and stay with it for the whole exercise.
Fold a sheet a paper (can crumble). Put under a single light and using your gradation scale, map out the shades. Use a dark color and stay with it for the whole exercise.
Color theory using Cards
Using good watercolor paper, make a color card for your palette (use same color placement/layout as your palette). You can grid it out but have it be understandable to you. It doesn't have to "read" to others other than the notes you are going to make on it.
It is helpful to keep this color card with your palette for quick reference while painting because colors
on the palette appear much darker than they do when mixed with water and applied to paper. It is okay to be loose here, we will work on refining the whole semester.
Below are two short videos. One is a clip from a longer video demo over creating a color card. The second is a time lapse of using the color card to assist with color matching.
It is helpful to keep this color card with your palette for quick reference while painting because colors
on the palette appear much darker than they do when mixed with water and applied to paper. It is okay to be loose here, we will work on refining the whole semester.
Below are two short videos. One is a clip from a longer video demo over creating a color card. The second is a time lapse of using the color card to assist with color matching.
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Student Samples
435 Advanced Watercolor
Irvine Valley College: 2018-2020
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a intermediate/advanced watercolor painting course that focuses on conceptual development through watercolor media including working with non-transparent aqua-based media on paper surfaces, and the historical survey of watercolor. Focus will be on building a body of work 8-12 works. Content and form will be discussed simultaneously. Group critiques and individual critiques will happen after every two classes. Students will cultivate their sense of personal expression by pushing their current work. Students are encouraged to take creative license with the prompts and interpret them but being consistent with connecting to the initial prompt. Students are welcome to explore all styles in painting: from photo realistic to the abstract.
Course Objectives:
Course Objectives:
- Introduce students to the fundamental processes of visual perception and artistic expression.
- Develop students’ confidence in using watercolor painting as a primary medium for artistic expression.
- Develop students’ ability to verbalize ideas and processes in watercolor painting.
- Develop understanding of history, major styles and contemporary issues in watercolor painting.
Student Samples
Color Theory:
Choose two colors you do not have to mix but it can be any color relationship: warm /cool, analogous, complimentary. I chose two primaries that create a secondary color, one is cool the other is warm, there is also a gradation difference. 1.On a large watercolor paper sheet ( I am using 29.7 cm x 42 cm or 11.69 inches x 16.53 inches), Tape off two rectangles. I am using 1 inch tape.
Choose two colors you do not have to mix but it can be any color relationship: warm /cool, analogous, complimentary. I chose two primaries that create a secondary color, one is cool the other is warm, there is also a gradation difference. 1.On a large watercolor paper sheet ( I am using 29.7 cm x 42 cm or 11.69 inches x 16.53 inches), Tape off two rectangles. I am using 1 inch tape.
Collage Watercolor
You will be creating a collage that you will scale to a large sheet of watercolor paper. Focus on collecting colors and shapes. Cut them out and glue them down on a sheet of paper. On a separate watercolor paper, start to interpret your collage, notice the distance of the cut paper from the edge paper. Match them in your painting. Of course you can tape off your watercolor paper. Draw it out or loosely paint a version of your collage.
I used gird paper to assist me but you can just mark your paper off into quarters. I used a marker to split it up so when I started drawing it on my watercolor paper, which had a grid too, it would match.
You will be creating a collage that you will scale to a large sheet of watercolor paper. Focus on collecting colors and shapes. Cut them out and glue them down on a sheet of paper. On a separate watercolor paper, start to interpret your collage, notice the distance of the cut paper from the edge paper. Match them in your painting. Of course you can tape off your watercolor paper. Draw it out or loosely paint a version of your collage.
I used gird paper to assist me but you can just mark your paper off into quarters. I used a marker to split it up so when I started drawing it on my watercolor paper, which had a grid too, it would match.
Suite of 3 thematic paintings
Using your theme research from week 8 and 9, create a portfolio of three unique(no copies of other artist works) paintings. Using any process done in class, create a thematic body of 3 paintings. You are creating a series of works that you could show in an exhibit. Start off with thumbnail sketches in watercolor color in addition to any other materials you want to explore.
Using your theme research from week 8 and 9, create a portfolio of three unique(no copies of other artist works) paintings. Using any process done in class, create a thematic body of 3 paintings. You are creating a series of works that you could show in an exhibit. Start off with thumbnail sketches in watercolor color in addition to any other materials you want to explore.
