Get to Know Your Watercolours (Jan 11)

Service Description

Let’s take the guesswork and confusion out of your palette once and for all. Have you ever noticed how your watercolours look completely different dry than when you add water and they come alive with light and transparency? In this hands-on class, we’ll design and paint a custom watercolour legend (or colour map) for your personal palette. When I was in art college, one of my foundation classes was an entire semester of colour mixing in gouache. It was one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned—understanding colour relationships, subtle shifts in hue, and the nuance of light and shadow completely changed how I paint. I’ve wanted to bring that kind of learning experience into watercolour form for a long time, and this class does exactly that. You’ll learn how to: • Measure and build your own palette chart by hand • Label and swatch each colour in your palette • Explore value scales and pigment characteristics—staining, granulation, transparency, flow, and liftability • Discover which paints mix best together • Learn the basics of colour theory—cool vs warm colours, complementary pairs, and harmonious trios • Quickly choose colours based on mood or atmosphere • Identify what colours you see in a reference photo Bring your own palette (at least 12 colours recommended). Some students use travel kits with pans, while others prefer tube paints. If you’re using tubes, bring or buy a blank folding palette so you can create your own portable kit—it makes painting so much easier whether you’re at home or on the go. By the end, you’ll understand your paints on a whole new level and have a beautiful, functional reference chart you’ll use for years to come. Sunday, January 11, 1–4 p.m. $125 · Ocean Art Studio, Salt Spring Island Only 5 spots available If you’ve taken one of my watercolour classes in the past or are learning on your own and would like a boost or a refresher, this is the class for you!