Explore imaginative watercolour techniques, floral inspired, in this workshop using negative painting technique to elevate your paintings, adding depth, interest, and movement. Learn to create intrigue by focusing on surrounding shapes rather than the subject itself. You will learn wash techniques, colour layering, composition, and ways to personalise your artwork. Annette will supply you with photographic references, and plant material, while encouraging individual interpretations of these subjects.

What will be covered in this course?

You will gain insights into composition and planning, including choosing appropriate subjects and design development. You will have the opportunity to watch insightful demonstrations and will have time to practice technical skills including laying successive washes, surface colour mixing, soft and hard, edge control and achieving rich velvety darks with wet into wet painting.

How the medium will be used

The versatile medium of watercolour allows for a gradual building of colour and value that relies on layered washes and is particularly suited to negative painting of floral subjects. The workshop will focus on helping students acquire skills in mixing and manipulating pigments using the medium of water. The application of successive washes on both wet and dry paper surfaces will be practiced. We will work on two paintings simultaneously to ensure continuous progress while allowing ample time for drying between layers.

By the end of this course students will:

Have an understanding and practical application of negative painting techniques and interpretations. Understand the importance of planning and composing using negative and positive shapes for rhythm and harmony. Acquired numerous technical skills including colour mixing techniques and layered washes. Have an understanding in simplifying complex subjects and discovered ways of personalising their work. Have produced 1 or 2 finished paintings.

This class is for: Intermediate to advanced painters.

This watercolour workshop is for those who wish to explore watercolour beyond traditional approaches. Participants with some prior experience in watercolour would find this course most beneficial.

ABOUT THE TUTOR: Annette Raff

Annette has been teaching workshops in painting and drawing for the past 26 years. Along with her love of teaching art, she enjoys developing her own art practice and exploring new ways of using watercolour mediums and mixed media. Annette holds a Bachelor Degree in Fine Art and an Advanced Certificate in Art and Design.

She is passionate about helping others to discover the joys of creating art and believes in allowing time for student practice and exploration. Annette’s artworks typically centre on capturing the core of a subject, often involving the disassembly of visual elements, all the while maintaining an illusion of realism and intricate complexity.

Required materials

A comprehensive list of required materials will be emailed to you after registration. It will include:

Watercolour Pigment in tubes, artist quality. Colours to be advised.
Watercolour brushes not the stiff bristle type.
Paper Fabriano Artistico “cold pressed” bright white or natural 300 gsm to paint on.
Graphite pencils
Kneadable eraser
Water Container: 2 x Jars or 2 x 1 litre yoghurt containers
Pipette or small squeeze bottle for adding water (or you can just use a separate brush)
Apron
Old hand towel (must be able to get paint on it)
1 x Household cleaning sponge (cellulose type)
Tissues in a box (box can be used to rest your board on)
Palette