Thank You Lakeland Art League for Inviting Me Back for a Full-Day Watercolor Workshop

THE WORKSHOP
I was invited back to the Lakeland Art League for a Full-Day Workshop on October 3rd, 2019. I want to thank all for attending in Minocqua, Wisconsin. I am always impressed with this group of artists. All of you did a great job and should be proud of your accomplishments.

It was requested for this workshop I do a demonstration to a finished painting using the entire day. Since we were in the middle of colorama in the Great Northwoods it seemed appropriate we do an autumn painting. I choose a fall scene from my personal collection of photographs. It was of a country road that wandered through the golden woods and downhill a sleepy dirt road. ​

Original photo

Minimal pencil drawing

The only thing that the students were allowed to draw was the road in perspective. From that point, I began painting large mass areas of value and color. ​

SUPPLIES
Colors
The colors used for this autumnal painting were: 

• Cadmium yellow medium
• Sap green
• Burnt sienna
• Ultramarine blue
• Cobalt blue
• Alizarin crimson 

Paper
The paper I was working with was a 300-pound Indigo paper which can only be ordered from DickBlick.com. This is a wonderfully textured paper and also flexible for painting different subjects. Remember one must be careful with this paper – it's a softer paper and cannot take the scrubbing that Arches 300-pound can handle. But it has a beautiful handmade feel and look.

If you want to see my complete supply list go to my Supply List & Library Page on this website. I try to update often with new materials and my thoughts about products out there.

HERE'S SOME LINKS
Here are the links to supplies and books I talked about during our time together. I have linked the products so it will be easy to find.

• MEEDEN Cat's Tongue Brush Set 
• Indigo Artpapers Handmade Watercolor Paper (you can only find it online at Blicks)
• QoR Watercolor Paints (Here a link to my supply list page with my recommendations. You will find a direct link to Qor Paints.)

BOOKS I RECOMMEND FOR YOUR LIBRARY

• John Carlson's Guide of Landscape Painting. Amazon offers this book for the Kindle, hardbound, softbound, and spiral bound. Once in a while, I can find the book in a used book store or antique shop. Here's an hour-long blogpost from Artists Helping Artists produced by Leslie Saeta titled Why Every Artist Needs to Read Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting.

 

• Put Your Paintings in Perspective. Robert J Krajecki is a friend and co-teacher at the Palette & Chisel in Chicago. As I mentioned in my class this is an easy to understand book on perspective. Bob offers a vast understanding of 1, 2, and 3 point perspective.

SUPPLIES

• MEEDEN Cat's Tongue Brush Set
• Indigo Artpapers Handmade Watercolor Paper (you can only find it online at Blicks)
• QoR Watercolor Paints (Here a link to my supply list page with my recommendations. You will find a direct link to QoR Paints.)

BOOKS I RECOMMEND FOR YOUR LIBRARY

• John Carlson's Guide of Landscape Painting. Amazon offers this book for the Kindle, hardbound (expensive!), softbound, and spiral bound. Once in a while, I can find the book in a used book store or antique shop. Here's an hour-long blogpost from Artists Helping Artists produced by Leslie Saeta titled Why Every Artist Needs to Read Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting.
• Put Your Paintings in Perspective. Robert J Krajecki is a friend and co-teacher at the Palette & Chisel in Chicago. As I mentioned in my class this is an easy to understand book on perspective. Bob offers a vast understanding of 1, 2, and 3 point perspective.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURES
Amazon: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

THE PAINT-ALONG
The point of this painting was to establish all the tree masses and the road before thinking about the secondary masses. Within the second washes, dark patterns became more established in the road edges more defined. I began working up into the trees with the subtle darks and changes in temperature of color. Using cadmium yellow medium and alizarin crimson gave the painter simulations of autumn oranges

From this point in the watercolor painting, I placed trees where they were needed compositionally starting in the background with a lighter, grayer and cooler trees. Working forward with more tree trunks they became darker and warmer in temperature. Branches were placed where needed and dark accents were added into the foliage. To give the road more distinction I added the proverbial ruts to define the road just a little bit further. I also felt the painting must tell a story so the viewer stays around a bit longer. During the day, I shared visual examples, past experiences and splashed with humor. All of this was done in a one-day workshop with questions throughout the day.

At the end of the day, I like to reward my students with a painting and this time Lisa Krueger won a Fine Art Giclée Prints, Cabin on the Pond. Watercolor. I also donated a watercolor painting to the Lakeland Art League. Each year they raise money for a scholarship supporting the artists of tomorrow. I'm more than happy to help such a noble cause.

FINAL NOTE
I have taught over 2300 students in my 41+ years. My teaching style is clear and simple. The student will experience a unique step-by-step instruction in transparent watercolor. Teaching as a paint-along allows the student to watch, go back and recreate what was just painted. My experience with this technique of sharing information allows the artist to retain more instruction. I also stress to my students to ask as many questions as they wish while I'm is painting. There is no such thing as a stupid question. I also encourage the student not to only take notes but to snap pictures with their cameras. I feel sharing my knowledge in all ways is the key to excellent learning. ​

IN CONCLUSION
I want to thank Lisa and Deb for organizing this workshop for the Lakeland Art League. It’s always a pleasure to work with this fine group of passionate artists. As always I had a really great time.

©Dale L Popovich all rights reserve