Visiting Artist Workshop: Flower Power with Catherine Hillis

Paint the beauty of nature with watercolor paint.   Learn good technique to last a lifetime. Study and paint the beauty of flowers, foliage and reflective glass.  Enrich your technical skills while exploring how to design and paint florals.  Students will work from live plants and still life set ups in the classroom. Expect lots of personal coaching and multiple demonstrations.

Materials/Supplies List

There is no substitute for good quality paper and paint. If you already own watercolor supplies, please bring what you have and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions. Email: catherine.h.hillis@gmail.com  Phone:  703-431-6877

Paper: A small Arches 140lb cold pressed watercolor block. 12 x 16 or smaller is fine. You may be able to buy this at Michaels with a coupon. If you use cheap paper, you will NOT be able to replicate my technique.  Write to me if you have questions. Other excellent brands include: Fabriano, Richeson, Saunders, Kilimanjaro.

Board:  If you are using separate pieces of paper instead, bring a gator board/corrugated plastic board or something similar and masking tape.

Accessories:  water container, paper towels, pencils, kneaded eraser, a spray bottle for water.

Palette: Your choice: A large white plate will work.  I use a large square or round palette with lots of mixing space and a lid. Here’s another good choice.

Brushes: Your choice. I use a medium round mop, a small round for details, a rigger, and a flat. Here are some reasonably priced brands: the Mimik set, the Princeton line of watercolor brushes is very nice and the #8 Round , the # 4 Round and any of the  Mottler Flats are good choices.  The CheapJoes.com  “Dream Catcher” line and Golden Fleece line are excellent and modestly priced.

Paint Brands:  Use only professional grade paints. Cheap paints contain fillers and you will not be able to paint clean, bright colors.  I use Daniel Smith paint but there are many excellent brands including: Winsor-Newton, Mijello, American Journey, Holbein, M. Graham, QOR, Schminke, Maimeri Blu, Sennelier, Dick Blick, and Da Vinci.

Paint Colors: My colors can change but today here are some of the colors on my palette - Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Red Hot Mama (a medium red), Bumblebee Yellow (any warm yellow) and lemon yellow. I think these are pretty essential. I also like to use Lavender, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Umber and Neutral Tint but these are not necessary.