Working With Watercolour | Tanya Baily | People and the Portrait in Watercolour - 2-Day Workshop

Course Overview

Learn how to paint people from life in this two-day masterclass workshop.

Workshop theme: The Colour of Shadows and Capturing Light

Day 1.

We study a range of techniques for how best to use watercolour to approach the human figure in the portrait. Apart from structural drawing exercises in proportion and composition, we look at colour mixing for skin colour and how to approach textures such as hair or folds in clothing. We also practice the difference between working fast and when there is more time.

Day 2:

Is a full day with a live model. Knowledge gained from Day 1 is applied to a series of exercises starting with quick poses and moving towards a longer consistent 2.5 hour pose. Tanya will teach students how to choose interesting compositions and will work one-on-one with each student as they complete a longer watercolour painting. Students can choose whether to paint the whole figure or a portrait.

This is one of a series of nine workshops by Tanya Baily in 2024 — click below to explore them all...

1. February: "The Sketch No. 1 - Techniques and Method"
2. March: "The Sketch No. 2 - Working Plein Air from Life"
3. April: "Buildings and the Urban Environment"
4. May: "Colour No. 1 - Colour Theory and Mixing"
5. June: "Colour No. 2 - The Colour of Shadows and Light"
6. July: "Colour No. 3 - Expressive Colour in Watercolour"
7. September: "Back to Basics"
8. October: "People and the Portrait"
9. November: "The Holiday Sketchbook"

You can sign up for all nine workshops, or pick and choose particular workshops that match your interest.

What to expect

Each workshop is designed around particular themes and goals, with exercises and ideas to practice a full range of watercolour techniques. You will learn the methods of the masters and of contemporary artists, and Tanya will guide you to develop your own style.

Workshop Delivery

This workshop will be studio-based with students working from still-lives in the studio or from photographic images

Is this course right for me?

Suitable for beginners to watercolour as well as experienced artists.

Recommended Material List

Paper: 1x Large sheet: 56x76cm 100% cotton 300gsm cold pressed watercolour paper.

Paints: A basic palette of warm and cool reds, yellows and blues, for instance:

Lemon Yellow, Raw Sienna, Cadmium (or Windsor) Red, Permanent Rose, Ultramarine Blue, Pthalo (or Prussian) Blue.

Students are welcome to bring previously owned paints. Tanya recommends artist quality brands, such as Windsor and Newton, Daniel Smith, Shmincke etc...

• Paint Brushes: 3x soft watercolour brushes sizes 4, 8, 12
• Pencil, Rubber, Sharpener
• 1 Roll of Kitchen Paper/ Rag/ Towel