Workshops

Cost: $250 (Two day workshop)

9:00a – 4:00p; Break for lunch: 12:00–1:00 pm

Maximum of 20 / Minimum of 6 – All ability levels

Watercolor has a reputation for being “hard” which is completely undeserved. Yes, it’s a bit unforgiving, but not difficult. We will first cover the basics of composition/design and dialing in the values. Then we’ll get out there into the great outdoors and go hands-on! I’ll do a short demo in how to create background washes with a variety of interesting colors, soft or even lost edges by painting wet in wet, then hard-edged darker shapes for color and temperature contrast, and establishing correct, believable values. Then I’ll turn you loose to find your own inspiration.

Miscellaneous information: (basic supplies list)

Use what you’re currently most comfortable with, but here are my suggestions:

• Paint – I personally prefer tube over pan watercolors, Daniel Smith is very reliable for consistency. My palette contains cold and warm versions of the basic primaries; Hansa Yellow Light (cold), Indian Yellow (warm), Pyrrol Scarlet (warm), Alizarin Crimson (cold), Ultramarine Blue (warm), Phthalo Blue (cold), sometimes Cobalt Blue (somewhere in between cold and warm, but makes for brilliant skies). I’ve also been known to use Raw Umber, Payne’s Gray, Burnt Sienna, and Yellow Ochre, but those are mostly for special monochrome effects.

• Brushes – General rule of thumb is use a brush bigger than what you’re comfortable with…teaches you to be bold with your brush strokes! For large-area washes, I like a long flat 1” wide synthetic or blend (the cheaper ones with the clear plastic handles work fine!) or a #6 Squirrel Mop or Quill. For laying in the basic shapes and even some of the details, a #3–#12 long round work well. Then, for the smallest details (tree branches, sticks, twigs, power lines, etc.) a #0–#2 round or what’s known as a “rigger” are perfect for calligraphic mark making.

• Paper – From long, sad experience, I’ve learned that if you skimp and buy the cheapest pad of sketch paper, you’ll be sorry. Strathmore makes a variety of fine watercolor papers, but my all-time favorite is Arches 140lb. or 300lb. 100% cotton rag cold press, which comes in several size blocks/pads. Tape your sheet to a larger piece of ½” gator board or Masonite, then clamp that into your French easel, or other plein air easel system.

• Other stuff – A pint-size water bucket or cup (empty Tang® containers work great!), a roll of paper towels, a plastic garbage bag, an umbrella or pop-up canopy, maybe a comfortable chair (lots of people use those, but I can’t sit when painting!) and a large brimmed hat to keep the sun and glare off you round out your must-haves.

You can see more of his work at https://www.vonhaiderthalfineart.com

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Cost $250

Maximum of 12 / Minimum of 6 – All ability levels; please have some familiarity with your equipment and medium

This will be a two-day workshop, meeting early morning and continuing until sunset, with midday lunch breaks. The group will discuss times and locations on the first morning. All levels are welcome. Please have some familiarity with your equipment and medium.

Hope’s current plein air work is inspired by Southwest landscapes. Her impressionist style is in oils on canvas or panels with an emphasis on the extraordinary energy and light of the Red Rocks, Grand Canyon and Utah. In 2023, Hope participated in the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, winning the Plein Air Purchase Award for her painting First Impression. After 40+ years of teaching in Boston, Hope is now settled in Sedona, AZ. 

You can see more of her work at: www.hopemricciardi.com

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Cost: $200

Maximum of 20 / Minimum of 5 – All ability levels

Jim will be demonstrating his approach to composing and painting the beautiful Southwest landscape. He will touch upon how he designs paintings and how to use shape, value, color, edges and other tools to create great paintings. 

Jim was born in 1958 in Denver, Colorado but grew up near the flatirons. Both of his parents are artistic and he was tremendously influenced by them and the natural beauty of the environment. Cartooning was his first love and he worked in that field for 15 years. In 1990 Jim moved to California and a few years later met his wife, Julie. Jim paints both “En Plein Air” (on location from life) and in the studio. “I want to inspire and be inspired through painting. To bring beauty into people’s lives. I have been blessed with a passion to create. I am thankful that people respond to my work and that it makes a difference in their homes and businesses. Every day I look forward to what I will paint next.” It was at this time that he began to paint with oils. The birth of their first child, Clint in 1998, focused his desire to paint while being a stay-at-home dad. In 2000 they had twin girls, Sophia and Gwen. Believe it or not, this helped him focus even more! For the last 24 years he has been able to paint every day and has had great growth and success.

Jim paints both “En Plein Air” (on location from life) and in the studio. “I want to inspire and be inspired through painting. To bring beauty into people’s lives. I have been blessed with a passion to create. I am thankful that people respond to my work and that it makes a difference in their homes and businesses. Every day I look forward to what I will paint next.” 

You can see more of his work at: www.jimwodark.com

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Cost: $150

Maximum of 8 / Minimum of 5 – All levels, but some experience helpful.

Material list:

• Three cradled panels (8×8, 10×10, or 12×12), covered with 3 coats of gesso prior to class
• Acrylic paints: black, white, and your choice of colors (a red, a yellow, and a blue). I like Liquitex or Golden fluid acrylics, but if you already have tubes of heavy body acrylics, that’s fine, too. 
• Acrylic mediums: Acrylic gloss medium, regular soft gel (mat, gloss, or semi-gloss)
• Acrylic Brushes: 2” flat, 1” flat, ½” flat, a large round (optional). I like synthetic brushes. Also bring an old credit card, bowl scraper, silicon tools, if you have them.
• Mark making tools: a black Stabilo “Woodie,” other color Woodies (optional). #8 or #9 graphite pencil or charcoal pencil, scrapers, rubber stamps, bubble wrap, rubber self-liner, stencils, etc. Anything that can leave a mark in or on the paint.
• Paper towels or shop towels, Apron, Water container

Note: If you want to put your finished piece in the overflow sales tent, bring D-rings and wire to prepare your painting for hanging.

You can see more of her work at www.suemartinfineart.com. Or follow her on Instagram @suemartinartist.

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