Watercolour Foundations – Intensive

“Watercolour Foundations” provides a comprehensive framework for students seeking to define their approach to this expressive medium. Over 4 weeks, you will be guided through the foundational aspects of watercolour by Dinesh Subramanian, starting with an analysis of materials, including paper types, brushes, and pigments, ensuring you are familiar with your tools for your personal vision. The curriculum is structured around key technical explorations: you will develop proficiency in techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, layering, and glazing. This careful practice is coupled with essential concepts like colour mixing and mark-making, helping you understand the delicate balance of water and pigment. As you progress, you will construct compositions inspired by still life, landscape, and abstract forms, all while benefiting from personalized instruction, live demonstrations by the instructor, and a supportive community through constructive group critiques.

Define the essential characteristics of watercolour materials, including paper, brushes, and pigments, and select them appropriately for various effects.

Construct a range of textures and tones using core techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, layering, and glazing.

Analyze and effectively mix a broad spectrum of colour to achieve desired hues, values, and intensities within a composition.

Develop an eye for interpreting subjects, from still life to landscape, through the specific lens of the watercolour medium.

Refine your intuitive process for balancing water and pigment to control washes and create compelling gradations.

Explore dynamic compositions across different subject matters, translating visual information into expressive, painterly statements.

Watercolor Paints:
Students can use pans or tubes based on their preference. For the class demo, I will use professional grade Winsor Newton watercolours. Winsor Cotman, which is an affordable option for students.
Cool watercolours
Cobalt Blue
Cerulean Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Cobalt Turquoise – Optional Winsor Dioxine – Optional Alizarin Crimson
Lemon Yellow
Any Pale Green
Winsor Violet – Any Violet Works
Warm watercolours
Yellow Ochre
Raw Umber
Burnt Umber
Burn Sienna
Sepia
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow – Any Yellow works
Grays
Paynes Grey or Neutral Tint
Whites
Chinese White
Gouache White (Any brand works)

*** The listed colours are the colours that will be used by the instructor. As students get used to using watercolours, they will slowly build their own palette. For the class, students can use the watercolour paints that may already be on hand.

Watercolour Brushes:
#12 -24 Round Synthetic Sable Brushes
#2 or Large Rigger Brushes
#4 and #8 Flat Brushes
#8 and #6 and #4 Mop/Quill brushes
For this class: Round Brushes – Different Sizes Mop/Quill Brushes – #4, #6, #8
Rigger/Liner Brush Flat Brush – Optional
Cat tongue Brush – Optional

Watercolor Paper:
When it comes to watercolour paper, always go for 300 GSM (140 lb). I prefer Saunders Waterford and Baohong watercolour paper. You can also see that any watercolour paper of good grade will suffice. For class demos, I will use Baohong watercolour paper as it’s a more affordable option for students. You can find it on Amazon.
Other Essentials:
Palettes:
Watercolour palettes or mixing trays for blending and mixing colours. Porcelain or plastic palettes work well.
Water Containers:
Students will need containers for clean water to dilute and clean their brushes. Plastic or glass containers are suitable.
Pencils and Erasers:
Pencils for sketching and drawing before painting. I prefer mechanical pencils with 0.5 or 0.7 to draw thin light sketches.
Paper Towels or Sponges
These are handy for blotting, lifting excess water or paint, and creating texture.