Workshops - Textures in Watercolour

Textures in Watercolour

  

Objectives

The aim of the workshop is to realise the true potential of watercolour in its ability to describe unique surface characteristics of different objects (from life).The utilization of numerous applications will be explored to help the students uncover the many possibilities available within the media. We will also study the methods used by Andrew Wyeth and apply those techniques to photographic reference material.

Subject matter

Object drawing. Is it possible to get objects which have a range of different surfaces? Dried fruit (oranges, lemons, flowers, leaves, tree branch or drift wood etc.), rusty, old, broken, worn tools or machinery (not new). I need around three objects per student, i.e. 10 students- 30 items. (I shall bring photographs of objects as back up)

Workshop

Day 1 - (approx. 6 hours): I will introduce my work with PowerPoint and demonstrate how I would approach painting an object quickly to achieve the essence of the subject. I will then ask the students to look at drawing/painting their subjects using different methods which will lead to simple wash and line drawings to build confidence and familiarity with material. Colour and layering.

Day 2 - (approx. 6 hours): - Textures. I may show examples through PowerPoint of some of my more elaborate techniques which are usually a combination of many things. I will then demo producing a series of textures using watercolour to describe different surfaces. Students will then produce their own sheet of textures, the idea is to experiment and find the limits of the media.

Once they have produced their sheet they will start working with different objects using some of the techniques they've discovered. They can build up a watercolour sheet with many objects on it or work on individual sheets of paper whatever suits them. The idea is to go beyond the first and second wash. I am looking for the development of the painting surface to reveal the character of each objects surface. They can choose new subjects to try different methods.

Day 3 - (approx. 6 hours): - Through the study of Andrew Wyeth’s techniques the students will choose an image by Wyeth and do their own version. This is to hone their interpretive skills and to develop the methods used by another artist as they recreate different surfaces using textures in watercolour. Demo.

Day 4 (approx. 6 hours):  Using the skills established over the past few days the students will continue those methods by working from photographic images (which I will supply) or objects of their choice. In this way, they can find new ways of interpreting their subject using textures to develop alternative approaches for painting surfaces.

 

Recommended experience level:  all levels

Download Supply List (pdf format)

 

Angus McEwan

Angus McEwan was born in 1963 in Dundee, Scotland. Angus studied at the Duncan of Jordanstone College Art in Dundee, graduating in Fine Art and a Post Graduate Diploma in the same discipline. He also has a Merit in a teaching Certificate- Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education, Scotland.

Angus was elected to the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours (1995) and in 2012 the Royal Watercolour Society. In 2005 he was recognized as an Associate of the International Guild of Realism USA. He is also an associate member of the AWS and NWS in the USA. In 2016 he was elected member of the Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI).

Angus has been Finalist three times of the "International Artist Magazine" and won first place in the John Blockley Prize in the RI open exhibition. Angus has also won second prize in the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition (2007) in London and the International Prize "Marche d'Acqua" Fabriano, Italy in 2012. In 2013 Angus won Bronze Award, at the Shenzhen International Watercolour Biennial, in China. Recently he was given the May Marshall Brown award at the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in watercolours (RSW), Edinburgh, 2015. In 2016 Angus was presented with the title of Honorary Citizen of Fabriano and awarded the “watercolour enthusiasts award” and the “people’s choice award” in the San Diego International Watercolour Exhibition, USA. He was also presented with the Master World Watercolour artist 2016 Award, Thailand and the “Gallery A” award in the Watercolour International III, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Different galleries have displayed McEwan’s works, including Ok Harris Gallery in New York and Quanhua Gallery, Shanghai and the Plus One Gallery, London. Recently highlighted in Shenzhen Biennale and the Qingdao Hall of Watercolor. He has exhibited in Fabriano, Italy in the "Marche d'Acqua" International Award, as special guest and Vicenza, Italy, where he had a solo show in the "Artbox". McEwan was one of the 23 finalists in Narbonne, France at the Concours Mondial de l'Aquarelle 2014 1st World Watercolour Competition. Angus also exhibited at the World Watermedia Exposition, Thailand and Myro Gallery, Greece. He also participated in the Second and third International Watercolour Exhibit in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Most recently Angus exhibited in the Third Silk Road International Arts Festival, Xian, China and the First International Master Watercolour Exhibition, Jimo, Qingdao, China 2016

Angus' work is in many private collections throughout the United Kingdom, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Turkey, Italy, China and North America.

He has had 21 solo exhibitions; numerous collective shows and has been recognized in many shows by winning 29 awards.

He has also held watercolour workshops and demonstrations in Scotland, Fabriano, Vicenza, Bologna, China and Moscow in the past two years.

                                                                          

 

www.angusmcewan.com

 


Non Members Fee: $540.00 Members Fee: $500.00

Back