Watercolor, Wet and Wild Workshop with Karen Knutson

"Watercolor, Wet and Wild (Watercolor, Collage, and Wire Drawing) with Artist Karen Knutson

Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260

July 18 to 21, 2023. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Break for lunch. 

4-day Workshop Price: $420 for WSI Members. $480 for Non-Members. 

Get ready to paint juicy, wet beginnings and then add detail with a process called Wire Drawing.  I named it “wire drawing” because the drawing resembles a wire sculpture.  These are done with permanent markers.  Subjects can vary widely according to the artists’ preferences.  Good examples are birds, fish, people with long hair, abstracts, still life settings, machinery, gears that remind you of steampunk art, etc. Color lessons and lots of design tips make this a win/win workshop!  All in all, this workshop will improve your design skills and imagination. One day, we will do small abstracts, using collage and watercolor.  These are a huge hit in past workshops.  Karen believes that art should be fun and easy.

Learn more about Karen Knutson at www.karenknutson.com. 

Supply list for this workshop:

Paper:

1. 1 full sheet cold press paper.  (I use Arches 140 lb. but you can work on whatever paper you’d like) We will divide this in class.  We will be working on paintings that are size 11” x 15”, (or smaller), so bring a foam core board or other support about 12” x 16”, for attaching paper to.

Paint: 

1. Bring your palette filled with your usual colors.  Because everyone always asks, my palette is as follows.  I usually use Winsor Newton brand, transparent colors.  (Please do not feel that you must go out and buy these colors.  The most important 5 colors are listed first.) Aureolin yellow, permanent rose (or DaVinci red rose deep), cobalt blue, winsor green, alizarin crimson, Holbein Opera Pink, antwerp blue, French ultramarine blue, manganese blue, cerulean blue, DS quinacridone gold, burnt sienna, permanent magenta, winsor red, neutral tint, and scarlet lake. 

Brushes: 

1. Watercolor brushes (bring your favorites) I use 1” flat and ½ “flat, and a small (#6) round brush.   

2. Palette knife 

Miscellaneous:  

1. Water containers, bring 2. 

2. Sponge or rag for wiping off your brushes. Masking tape. 

3. Sketch pad or notebook for taking notes. 

4. Fine and ultra-fine black permanent marker (I like Twin Top Sharpie markers, available at office supply stores.)

5. 2 Pencil and eraser 

6. Tracing paper 

7. Graphite paper (Saral graphite colored brand is my favorite- available at Dick Blick art supply stores) 

8. Ruler 

9. Masking fluid.   (I use Pebeo brand, because of its fluidity and that it is grey in color.) 

10. Kleenex brand tissues (because they pop up for easy grabbing) 

11. Margarita salt or table salt 

12. Spray bottle (I use a push button top, old Windex bottle.  You can usually get these at small convenience gas stations.)

13. Yes Paste OR Acrylic Matte Medium (Whichever one you prefer) and old brush (for applying it) and a small plastic container with lid (for storing it.)

14. Collage papers-** bring whatever you have. (Don’t invest if you don’t have these. I will bring some to share.)  I will bring chiri paper (transparent) for everyone.  Unryu fiber paper, which is a milky white fiber paper with strings in it and it is semi-transparent.  Bring whatever other oriental papers you might already have.  Napkins and magazines can be used for collage, also, so start saving those.  My favorite magazine for collaging is Architectural Digest. (It also is very good for some design exercises that we will be doing.)  Try to think of variety in colors and textures. Any metallic ribbons, old books, music books, etc. Also, (old paintings that you don’t like) can be used in collage.

15. Colorful paper napkins. Cocktail napkins have the best colors and patterns.  (Any papers that have busy patterns and bright colors -for instance, swirls or dots, or checks.) They make great collage material.  

16. Pebeo porcelain outliner tubes.  My favorite color is gold.  (This is gold paint that is raised when applied.  It usually is for painting on glass.  These are available through Cheap Joes Art supply catalog or at Micheals Art Supply Store.) 

17. Gold reactive foil (12” rolls available at Hobby Lobby) I use this instead of gold leaf.  It’s easier. :) Another option is gold foil paper available through www.joggles.com 

18. Double stick tape that is available in the craft section of Michaels.  I use a big one that is used for framing purposes, but a small one will work just fine.  

19. (Optional). Bring whatever acrylic metallic paints that you have.  My favorite is Lumiere metallic acrylic paints.  I use both copper and gold. 

If you are not able to attend, you may send someone in your place. No cancellations within 2 weeks of workshop start date. Thank you!