Premier Workshops

Premier workshops are typically two to four days. They are taught by nationally and internationally renowned master artists. Open to artists of all levels.

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Beginner Workshops

SDWS offers a very popular series of workshops twice a year for adults new to watercolor or for those adults who wish to renew their interest and skill level. You do not have to be a SDWS member to attend these workshops. Each series consists of six Saturday workshops with all supplies provided. Students may elect to just take one workshop or attend all six. All students who are not members and take at least four of these workshops will receive a SDWS membership, free for one year.

Students attending the initial Beginner Basics workshop receive one flat brush, one round brush, watercolor paper, and a small plastic covered palette. Materials, brands, and where to purchase art supplies are discussed during this first class. The balance of the class is spent with the students learning basic watercolor painting techniques and watching step-by-step painting demonstrations and getting lots of practice using what they learned.

Our instructors come from SDWS’s Education/Outreach Committee. In addition to teaching beginner classes, they volunteer their time to teach art classes to all ages - in schools, after school programs, and senior centers. As well as being active members of SDWS, many of our instructors are credentialed teachers who have recently retired or are in between teaching positions.

After the Beginner Basics Workshop, the next workshops will begin with a review of key watercolor techniques and then focus on a specific topic. These additional topics are: Color and Value, Drawing for Watercolor, The Still Life - Bringing It All Together, Landscapes, and Portraiture - Let's Paint a Face. At the end of each workshop, students will have a finished matted watercolor to take home.

All workshops are held in the gallery’s education center. For students having attended previous Beginner workshops, please bring back all of your supplies. Please bring a notebook, pencil, and pen for additional notes. A refrigerator is available for bag lunches. Water, tea, and coffee are also available.

We hope new students will enjoy this new creative outlet and then join our membership by taking other workshops taught by a variety of professional instructors from across the country and from our own membership.

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