Drawing & Perspective Sketching
Introduction to Watercolors Basics
Introduction to Watercolors Basics
Date: Saturday, February 3
Time: 11:30am-3:30pm
Instructor: Zan Thompson
Ages: 18+
# of Students: Min. 5/Max. 10
Skill Level: Beginner-Advanced
Cost: $95 member / $115 nonmember
Description: The workshop begins with drawing techniques to help artists who are planning a painting. It includes the importance of value sketches and composition sketches. Learn how to draw what you see in the field and review some tools to assist you. Most importantly you will learn simple tricks for doing good perspective sketches that will drastically improve your art. The workshop will also provide an understanding of shadows and cast shadows.
Supplies List - Bring to Workshop:
- drawing pencils
- sheets of plain printer paper or sketch book (student preference)
- straightedge or ruler
Introduction to Watercolors Basics
Introduction to Watercolors Basics
Introduction to Watercolors Basics
Date: Saturday, March 2nd
Time: 11:30am-4:30pm
Instructor: Zan Thompson
Ages: 18+
# of Students: Min. 5/Max. 10
Skill Level: Beginners
Cost: $115 member / $135 nonmember
Description: This workshop begins with basic drawing and painting techniques to get students started with a firm foundation. Special effects and application processes are covered in this workshop. This workshop provides an understanding of the different methods of painting in watercolor from big flats to round brushes, wet on wet, wet on dry, dry on wet and dry on dry so the student can quickly improve their art and skill level.
Supplies List - Bring to Workshop:
- Pencil HB or 3B or a Mechanical Pencil with HB or 3B lead (Cheap Joe has 3B pencils cheap)
- Sharpener
- Eraser: Kneaded eraser is best.
- Sketch Book 8.5”x11” (or Pad or printer paper on a flat plastic clip board)
- Water Container
- Spray Bottle
- Paper Towel
- Towel
- Masking Tape
- Paint Palette
- Watercolor Paper: A professional grade 9”x12”, 140 lb. Cold Press 140 lb. or a Rough 140 lb.
- Watercolor Paint Use what you have as long as it is professional grade tube paint.
- Recommended Colors or similar: Cad Yellow, Cad Red medium, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre Light, Gold Ochre, Olive Green, and Sepia. In addition, you will also need a Black (I use Am. Journey – Indigo mixed with Sepia to make black). Optional: A Violet (I use Lukas - Dioxazine Violet), and Grey of Grey (Holbein).
- Brushes: Must have #14 round, #8 round and #4 round. Flats, 1”, ½”
- Optional- 1-1/2” or 2” flat and ¼” Dagger brush, one Liner or Rigger #2 and one inexpensive flat top bristle toothbrush for splatter.
Painting Landscapes in Watercolor
Plein-Air Painting Secrets, Tricks &
Plein-Air Painting Secrets, Tricks &
Date: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28
Time: Saturday (11:30am-4:30pm) / Sunday (12:30pm-5:00pm)
Instructor: Zan Thompson
Ages: 18+
# of Students: Min. 5/Max. 10
Skill Level: All skill levels
Cost: $185 member / $205 nonmember
Description: Learn to paint like a pro! This workshop teaches the steps to creating a good watercolor painting. You will work on a landscape painting where the first subject is selected by the instructor. Your second painting will be a subject selected by you. There is hands-on instruction and group instruction in this workshop. Basic composition, simple perspective techniques, shadows, proper brush work, color mixing and values are all covered in this class. Recommended for all skill levels.
Supplies List - Bring to Workshop:
- Pencil HB or 3B or a Mechanical Pencil with HB or 3B lead
- Pencil sharpener
- Eraser: Kneaded eraser is best.
- 8.5”x11” Sketchbook or Pad or printer paper on a flat plastic clip board.
- Water Container
- Fine Mist Spray Bottle
- Paper Towel Roll
- Towel
- Masking Tape
- Paint Palette
- 9” x 12” Watercolor Paper: A professional grade Cold Press 140 lb. or a Rough 140 lb.
- Watercolor Paint Use what you have as long as it is professional grade tube paint..
- Recommended Colors or something very close: Cad Yellow, Cad Red medium, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre Light, Gold Ochre, Olive Green, and Sepia. In addition, you will also need a Black (I use Am. Journey – Indigo mixed with Sepia to make black). Optional: A Violet (I use Lukas - Dioxazine Violet), and Grey of Grey (Holbein).
- Brushes: Must have #14 round, #8 round and #4 round a ¼” Dagger brush. Optional: Flats, 1”, ½”, 1-1/2” or 2” if you have one. Liner or Rigger #2 and one inexpensive flat top bristle toothbrush for splatter.
Plein-Air Painting Secrets, Tricks &
Plein-Air Painting Secrets, Tricks &
Plein-Air Painting Secrets, Tricks &
Date: Saturday, May 18 (11:30am-4:00pm) and Sunday, May 19 (12:30pm-5:00pm)
Instructor: Zan Thompson
Ages: 18+
# of Students: Min. 5/Max. 10
Skill Level: Beginners - Advanced
Cost: $200 member / $210 nonmember
Description: Explore Plein-Air painting! This workshop begins in the classroom and continues with outdoor immersive learning. You will spend approximately three hours in the classroom where there’s a discussion on proper plein-air equipment, how to build your own easel system, clothing, other considerations when painting on-site and how to set up and plan a painting in the outdoors. It willl also cover impacts caused by weather conditions and how painting techniques may have to be altered to finish a painting. Students learn how to select a scene to paint, sketch both composition and value sketches, set up their easel system for optimum painting experience in the outdoors, how to handle the impact of various environmental conditions on their painting style and how to deal with observers as they paint. Recommended for all levels of painters interested in Plein-air painting!
Supplies List to Bring to Workshop:
- Pencil HB or 3B or a Mechanical Pencil with HB or 3B lead
- Pencil sharpener
- Eraser: Kneaded eraser is best.
- 8.5”x11” Sketchbook or Pad or printer paper on a clipboard.
- Water Container
- Fine Mist Spray Bottle
- Paper Towels
- Hand Towel
- Masking Tape
- Paint Palette
- Tripod/Easel Tripod loans available on a first come basis. The En Plein Air Pro Traveler Watercolor is a great one!
- Watercolor Paper: A professional grade, 140 lb. I recommend either a Cold Press 140 lb. or a Rough 140 lb. paper size should be 9” x 12” minimum sheet size. I use both but favor the rough for landscapes. A block of 140 lb. paper is a good option
- Watercolor Paint Use what you have as long as it is professional grade tube paint. Lukas Aquarell 1862 (Germany), Da Vinci (USA), Daniel Smith (USA), American Journey (USA) or Holbein HWC (Japan).
- Recommended Colors or something very close: Cad Yellow, Cad Red medium, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, French Ultramarine Blue, Burt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre Light, Gold Ochre, Olive Green, and Sepia. In addition, you will also need a Black (I use Am. Journey – Indigo mixed with Sepia to make black). Optional: A Violet (I use Lukas - Dioxazine Violet), and Grey of Grey (Holbein).
- Brushes: Required: #14 round, #8 round and #4 round ¼” Dagger brush
- Optional: Flats: 1”, ½”, 1-1/2” or 2” / Liner or Rigger #2
Meet your Instructor - Zan Thompson
About Zan
Zan Thompson - Watercolor Artist, Mentor & Observer of Place
Zan Thompson was born into a family of watercolor artists which has greatly influenced his passion and his persistence for watercolor painting. Zan grew up playing and experimenting with art in his parents’ Atlanta studios.
Today, Zan paints strictly in watercolor, is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and teaches a number of workshops and classes from drawing to painting. He likes to share with his students the little tricks that helped him conquer the difficult medium of watercolor.
He paints both En Plein-Air and in the studio and always welcomes an audience. He paints in realism, impressionism and abstract.
"Watercolor paintings celebrating the essence found in our environments from the alluring subjects to the most mundane!" -Zan
Learn more about Zan at zanthompson.com
