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Watercolour Classes and Workshops

  -  Watercolour Classes and Workshops

WATERCOLOUR CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS TO SUIT VARIOUS SKILL LEVELS

There’s something for every skill level in most of my classes. If you’re not sure which one to enrol in, just drop me an email (renata@renatawrightart.net) with your contact number, and I’ll give you a call.

Workshops April 2024

My watercolour workshops are great for those who want to paint a specific subject; those who can’t commit to a term of classes; or those who would like to try watercolour for the first time (a workshop will help you decide whether to continue on with a term of classes). See below for more information:

Fri 05 April – Watercolour for Absolute Beginners – 9.30 am to 3.30 pm

Learn the basics of watercolour – how to hold a brush, which brush to use, how much water to use, how to mix paints, how to simplify your subjects, and more. I will also teach you some colour theory and composition basics. This is a full day of learning and by the end of the day you’ll be ready to join a regular class! $185 which includes all equipment.

Sun 07 April – Watercolour Collage – 9.30 am to 2.00 pm

In this workshop you will discover your inner artist, creating real and abstract images using a variety of photos, papers, material, watercolour, gouache and pens. This workshop will be so much fun as it’s a constantly evolving project that changes as you work. $135 (plus $33 equipment hire if required).

Sun 14 April – Little Birds – 9.30 am to 2.00 pm

Choose your favourite little bird – perhaps a blue wren, sparrow, finch, martin, New Holland honey eater, or maybe even a robin, and I’ll show you how to capture it in a watercolour painting. You’ll learn how to create a cheeky expression, how to get those little claws just right, and how to paint all the colours in the feathers. Pre-drawing required. $135 (plus $33 equipment hire if required).

Sat 20 April – Portraits – 9.30 am to 2.00 pm

Choose one of your favourite family members and paint their portrait. You will learn how to draw correct face proportions, mix the correct skin colours, and capture individual personality in this workshop. Suitable for students who have basic knowledge of watercolour painting. $135 (plus $33 equipment hire, if required).

Sat 27 April – Miniatures – 9.30 am to 2.00 pm

Join me in this miniatures workshop where we’ll create very small watercolours (landscapes, flowers, insects and gorgeous designs) suitable for postcards, gift cards, bookmarks and small frames. Great for artists who have limited space to work in or limited time to paint. Suitable for all skill levels. $135 (plus $33 equipment hire if required).

Mon 29 April – Pen and Wash/Travel Sketching – 9.30 am to 2.00 pm

Learn how to combine ink and watercolour in a fun and easy way. A great method to learn if you like travelling and would like to sketch scenes along the way in a sketchbook or visual diary. Suitable for all skill levels. $135 (plus $33 equipment hire if required)

Sat 04 May – Cats and Dogs – 9.30 am to 2.00 pm

Bring a photo of your favourite cat or dog and I’ll show you how to create a painting that captures their character. I’ll also show you how to paint fur, paws, faces and more. Suitable for students with basic drawing and painting skill levels. $135 (plus $33 equipment hire if required).

The above workshops will be held at the Orange Palette, 31 Berriman Drive, Wangara. To book in, click the Enrol Here button and follow the prompts.

Watercolour Classes May and June 2024

** Numbers limited, so book in early to avoid disappointment.**  

Tuesday mornings – 9.30 am to 12.00 noon (Students with good basic watercolour knowledge)
07, 14, 21, 28 May, 04, 11, 18, 25 June – 8 wks – $310
Tuesday afternoons – 12.30 pm to 3.00 pm (Easy watercolours for beginners or students who want to paint simpler subjects)
07, 14, 21, 28 May, 04, 11, 18, 25 June – 8 wks – $310
Wednesday nights – 6.30 pm to 9.00 pm (All skill levels)
08, 15, 22, 29 May, 05, 12, 19, 26 Jun – 8 wks – $310
Thursday mornings – 9.30 am to 12.00 noon (Students with good basic watercolour knowledge) **FULL**
09, 16, 23, 30 May, 06, 13, 20, 27 June – 8 wks – $310 
Saturday mornings – 9.00 am to 11.30 am (Students with good basic watercolour knowledge) **FULL**
11, 18, 25 May, 01, 08, 15, 22, 29 June – 8 wks – $310
Saturday afternoons – 12.00 pm to 2.30 pm (Easy watercolours for beginners or students who want to paint simpler subjects)
11, 18, 25 May, 01, 08, 15, 22, 29 June – 8 wks – $310

Venue – The Orange Palette, Unit 1a/31 Berriman Drive, Wangara

Terms and Conditions for In-Person Classes 

Learning Outcome

Please note that each class runs for 2½ hours.  During this time, I demonstrate techniques and a step-by-step process on my own painting; I also walk around the class and give you tips and individual instruction and provide feedback at the end of the lesson if required.  Whilst class time is quite comprehensive, I also suggest you practise at home between classes as this will ensure that you improve and what I have taught will be reinforced.  Your attitude is important – remain positive and results will come.  Practise is important too – what you put in will determine the outcome.

Copyright (Very Important)

The photos, pictures and paintings used during my classes are protected by copyright and are not to be used for any purpose other than as painting subjects during class.  They must not be distributed to a third party and should not be sold or used for entry into art exhibitions without my prior written consent.

Class Confirmation / Booking Terms

Classes are sold only by the term (i.e. not per class) and 100% must be paid when booking to secure the spot in the class. Payment may be made via my website booking system, or by online bank transfer or by cash / credit in person at the Orange Palette.

Classes that do not have sufficient minimum numbers will be cancelled, and a full refund will be provided to students of that class. The minimum number of students in the classes is 6, and the maximum number is 12.

Refunds

Cancellation fees are as follows:

14 or more days prior to commencement of class/workshop – full refund (or fee held in credit for six months)
3 – 13 days prior to commencement of class/workshop – 50% refund (or credit for six months)
0 – 2 days prior to commencement of class/workshop – non-refundable

Missed Class Policy

No refunds will be given for missed classes.
No replacement classes, class notes or step-by-step photos will be provided for students who miss classes.
No credit is given for missed classes for the cost of enrolment in subsequent terms.

Stay Home if You Are Sick

If you are feeling ill you should not attend class. Staying home not only allows your body to rest and aid in the recovery process, but it also allows you to prevent spreading germs to others.

Painting Classes FAQs

  • Do I need any experience to attend your watercolour painting classes?  This is the most common question I am asked.  No, you do not need any experience at all to attend my classes.  My classes are designed so that you can follow along step by step when you are new to watercolour and later as you progress, I encourage you step outside of your comfort zone and experiment with colours, shapes, brush strokes etc to develop your own style.
  • Is watercolour a difficult medium to work with?   Yes and no.  The only difficult thing about watercolour painting is that you need to plan a little bit more because watercolour does not allow you to make too many mistakes.  I do share my tips on how to correct mistakes so you have nothing to worry about though.  Watercolour can actually be quite easy to work with as its unpredictability can actually be a wonderful happy asset when painting, which means it often does the work for you without you even realising it!
  • What benefits will I receive from painting in watercolour?   The sky’s the limit with what you can achieve once you start painting in watercolour.  The learning journey itself can be such a pleasure because you suddenly notice things differently around you and you start to wonder how you will paint something – what colours you’d use, how you’d capture the light and the shadow etc.  It’s amazing how painting can be great for your health.  Painting can be so therapeutic and you’ll find you’ll get lost in your own world at times as you squeeze out your paints, mix with your brush and dab, splash and stroke away.  The social aspects are fantastic too.  Many friendships have been formed in my classes, and everyone is helpful and supportive.  You’ll feel like part of a family in my classes.
  • Should I be able to draw first before I attend painting classes?  No, it’s not absolutely necessary.  At each class I hand out the picture that we’ll be painting from in the following class.  That will give you a week to draw the picture at home so that you can get straight into painting once you come to class the following week.  I give advice on how to draw the tricky bits and make changes so that the picture is more interesting.  Most of my pictures are adaptable which means you can leave out parts that are too hard to draw and you can add other bits instead.  For example, if we are painting the ocean, you could leave out any people on the beach and just add a seagull or two in the sky.
  • I’m nervous when painting around others.  How friendly are the other students?   My classes, whilst remaining structured, are also informal and friendly.  Everyone is made to feel welcome and everyone works at their own pace so there’s no pressure to turn out a masterpiece every time.  I have noticed too, that students love to share information with others so if you’re stuck on anything, your painting neighbour is more than likely to tell you about a time when they had the same problem and how they fixed it!  We have lots of laughs in our class, and yet there are also moments of silence when each person has their head down in deep concentration.
  • Are the watercolor painting classes just for women or can men attend too?  My classes are for men AND women, regardless of age, experience, and background.  The men who attend my classes are sometimes outnumbered but they never feel left out or intimidated.  In fact, most of them enjoy having so many women around them and there is often lots of “women vs men” banter thrown about!