QUICK SKETCH PORTRAITS IN WATERCOLOR with Pam Wenger

QUICK SKETCH PORTRAITS IN WATERCOLOR with Pam Wenger7/12 - 7/14, 9:30-4pm | Int-Adv | $225 MEM / $250 NON-MEM 

Painting portraits in watercolor can seem like a daunting task, but many of us can’t resist the urge to try it. We may have a loved one who we’d like to paint or we may simply be drawn to the challenge of capturing an interesting character on paper. It’s so easy to “tighten up” our portrait paintings because of our focus on “getting it right”. Painting the “quick sketch” portraits focuses on loosening up that process and working to achieve a more relaxed look that highlights the beauty and freshness of the watercolor medium.

I will have partially pre-drawn portraits for you to work on as part of our exercises - or you may draw freehand. You will be asked to bring along one or two pre-dawn portraits of your own on watercolor paper. (on approximately 9”x11”paper, head only.) The 3 day format of the workshop will give us time to practice the techniques we are exploring. The references we’ll be working with will cover a wide range of ages and skin tones.

This workshop will be a combination of demo and hands-on portrait work.*

During days 1 and 2, you will primarily work from partially pre-drawn portraits that will be provided in the class. You will finish the drawings, but the basics will be there so we can spend the majority of our time painting. (If you prefer to work completely freehand, that is fine.) On day 3, we will work on one or two portraits of your own that you have prepared for the class.

Tech Tips: Each day we will explore a technology tool to use to help you in your portrait paintings.

Students should be comfortable with painting in watercolor, but do not need to have experience with portrait painting.

Here's a sample video of my Quick Sketch painting process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNgwPap5-q8&t=203s

SUPPLY LIST:

Pam Wenger – Quick Sketch Portrait Workshop - 3 Day workshop Supply List and Notes

• Prepared Drawings - Bring two completed drawings of your own (using your own reference photo) on an (approximately) 9” x 11” sheet of watercolor paper. I’d advise using ‘head and shoulders only’ references to keep the face at a reasonable size. I use Saunders Waterford Hot Press - 200 lb, but I’d suggest using whatever type of paper you normally work with. Bring along the printed reference picture or have it available on your digital device. We will use these on Day 3 of the workshop.

• Paper - The partially drawn portraits that I provide will be on student grade cold press paper (so it will feel a bit more like hot press)

• Miscellaneous Supplies - Bring all your usual watercolor supplies: water container, paper towels, board to attach your watercolor paper to, drawing pencils (I just use BIC #2 mechanical pencils), push pins or tape.

• Optional tech gadget - If you have an iPad or other tablet - please bring it along, since I’ll be demoing several apps. You can also use your digital device as your reference tool since I’ll have the reference photos available online as well as printed. (No problem if you don’t have digital device, though!)

• Paint and Brushes - Bring your own palette and brushes that you are comfortable with. I’d suggest using no brushes smaller than a #10. I use KingArt Max Round Brushes -very inexpensive and I just grab a new one when I wreck the point. I’ll have some of these for sale at the workshop for those interested.

• Paint Notes - I use mostly transparent colors. Here’s my color list for those who are interested. Don’t feel you need to buy new colors for the workshop, though. I’ll be bringing a sample sheet for you that has my essential colors. *Alizarin Crimson (I prefer Daniel Smith) *Burnt Sienna (I use Holbein’s Burnt Sienna) Cobalt Blue *Hookers Green Indigo Mineral Violet * Peacock Blue Perylene Maroon *Quinacridone Coral *Quinacridone Magenta Raw Sienna *Vermilion *Winsor Yellow Deep (*Starred items are ones I feel are essential for my portrait work.)