Watercolor Dog Portraits in 3 Steps taught by Jess Lindell (Multi-Session)
November 5 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Multi-Session Class
Meets 3 Thursdays, November 5-19 from 10am-12:30pm
Student level: Confident Beginner, Intermediate
IN PERSON
Learn a unique “333” approach to watercolor and how to use it to create successful dog/animal portraits that combine in-focus detail and loose techniques that harness what watercolor does best.
During session one we will review supplies, the 3 properties of water control for paper, paint, and brushes and the 3 principles of color, contrast, and composition. You’ll discover the unique properties of paint beyond the color itself so you know how to achieve effects like granulation, opacity/transparency, pushing, sinking and spreading. We’ll end session one by learning and practicing 10 techniques: pigmented edges, scraping and stylus, splatter, glazing, lifting, water and color resist, ink pen, masking, brushwork, and pulling color.
We’ll start session two painting the eyes and nose of our animal. While those dry, we’ll complete brush drills that will help you master the “loose” look you’re after. After reviewing our portrait planner to help us consider layers, sections, and edges while we paint, I’ll show you how to use the 3-step process to complete your first animal portrait.
We’ll wrap up the workshop in session three where we’ll put what we’ve learned to work painting an animal portrait from start to finish from a photo that you choose.
There will be time for questions, feedback, and demos. All students will receive a scratch paper pack, printed workbook, reference photo and tracing.
Required supplies:
Watercolor paper: 140 or 300lb cold-press in any size between 11×14 and 16×20. (suggested brand: Fabriano or Arches) A watercolor palette (suggested: Richeson 16 or 20 well plastic palette with larger mixing areas or similar) Watercolor paint: buff titanium, gold or brown, pink or red, black and blue (suggested brand: Daniel Smith) Brushes: one size #2 liner brush, two to four size #6 round brushes(Jess encourages students to have multiple brushes of the same size so they don’t have to clean their brushes between colors, they can just have a brush for each color! Makes for faster painting and saves paint), one 1/2 or 3/4 inch grainer brush, one 3/4 or 1 inch flat/shader brush. (Princeton Select Artist Brushes) Misc.: pencil and eraser, blotting towel
Optional supplies: ink pen, plastic fork or scraping tool (these will be available to borrow from the instructor)
All class materials are available for purchase from our store Wet Paint Artists’ Materials. We are open 10-6pm daily at 1684 Grand Avenue in St. Paul, MN or online at www.wetpaintart.com.
Classes have a limited space available and some fill quickly. Decisions about whether to cancel a class or add another session are typically made one week prior to the start of a class. If a class you are interested in is full we will have a waiting list and will contact you if a space opens up. If a class is cancelled due to low enrollment (fewer than 4 registrations) all registrations will be promptly refunded.
Ticket Instruction: You must choose a quantity to activate “get tickets”. To pay for a class registration with a Wet Paint gift card, please call 651-698-6431
Jess Lindell has been painting watercolor pet portraits for over 20 years, earning multiple State Fair ribbons and a feature on Twin Cities Live. She was first introduced to the magic of watercolor by her aunt Meridith and quickly fell in love with the medium. Her mother’s work as a veterinary technician opened the door to pet portraiture, where she found her life’s work. Jess teaches artists how to harness her 333 method for watercolor by sharing the process, principles, and properties of the medium so her students can experience the joy of watercolor through their very first painting, without wasting precious time or supplies.
