Big Sky Landscapes

One day workshop with Kevin Scully

Sunday 9 June 2024 – 10am to 4pm – £70 (plus bring some materials – list below)

This workshop is suitable for adults.

Add some drama to your watercolour landscapes by introducing some dynamic skies where they are the dominant feature of the image rather than the landscape itself. We will be looking at the ways in which a variety of techniques can be used to suggest mood and atmosphere. We will be working from a selection of provided images as the basis for some dynamic and vibrant paintings.

A course for all levels of experience. Some experience of watercolour painting is an advantage  but not essential.

Materials to bring

Here is a list of basic equipment for painting in watercolour. You don’t necessarily need everything listed here, but these are the materials I use most of the time. Please adjust or amend it as necessary and include any of your favourite materials

Paper:
Watercolour Block, loose paper, or pad approx. 9″ x 12″, or 12″ x 16″ 300 g/m2 (140 lb) NOT surface (Cold pressed). Arches, Fabriano, or Saunders Waterford are all excellent makes. More economical brands are Bockingford or Langton

Paints:
‘Artists Quality’ watercolours in small tubes are the best, as these allow you to mix large amounts of colour for washes. Or if you prefer, pans of colour in a folding palette. Winsor & Newton (not Cotman), Jackson’s, Schmincke, Sennelier, or Daniel Smith are among the best quality watercolours.

Suggested colours:

  • Cadmium Yellow Light
  • Cerulean Blue
  • Cobalt Blue
  • French Ultramarine
  • Viridian Green or Phthalo Green
  • Hooker’s Green or Sap Green
  • Raw Sienna or Yellow Ochre
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Raw Umber
  • Burnt Umber
  • Cadmium Red
  • Alizarin Crimson
  • Permanent Rose or Magenta
  • Winsor Violet or Dioxazine Purple
  • Payne’s Grey
  • Neutral Tint

Brushes:
Round, watercolour brushes in sizes 3, 8, and 10 or 12.  It’s important that these brushes are of good quality and that they form a point when wet. Sables are expensive, so synthetic ones are a good substitute. I use Jackson’s ‘Studio Synthetic’, or ‘Pro Arte’ brushes..

A square ½”, or 1” brush, and a larger one for covering large areas

Other Materials:

  • HB pencil and sharpener
  • A drawing board for taping your paper to
  • A couple of jars for holding water
  • Masking tape
  • Tissues/Kitchen towel
  • Large palette with several mixing wells
  • A small atomiser spray bottle to hold water, for re-wetting your painting   
  • Putty rubber

Covid prevention

If you feel unwell please carry out a test and don’t attend if positive to avoid contagion as far as possible of our more vulnerable customers.

Cancellation policy.

Please note that a ticketing fee of £5 is included in the price of this workshop and this is not refundable in any circumstance.

If you are unable to attend the workshop and you cancel your attendance more than two weeks prior to the workshop, the ticketing fee above will be retained.  If you cancel less than two weeks before the workshop no fees are refundable.

In the event of City Arts having to cancel the workshop due to participants’ numbers falling below the minimum requirement or government advice changes, we will refund the whole workshop amount.