New York Academy of Art

Introductory information about watercolor technique and materials will be covered and then expanded upon into intermediate or advanced levels, with individual feedback for each student. This includes guidance for setup, washes, application on wet or dry paper, and glazing. Each student will make a small accordion booklet to experiment with freely over the course of six weeks, with an introduction to non-traditional materials halfway through. During that time, we will delve further into the history and physical properties of watercolor, studying how these have influenced the uses and pushed the limits of this medium. By understanding the logic behind the technique and then applying that to individual abilities and preferences, the goal is for each student to find their own voice and expression. Our focus will initially be on the figure, studying the human body’s range of expression as a whole, and from there we will proceed to smaller gestures and longer poses with the model, until we place full emphasis on a single portrait over three sessions. We will move from improvising with highly expressive, abstract marks, to careful planning of glazes and precise brushwork; from atmosphere to description, and in this way students will learn a full range of the medium’s vocabulary. As we close in on more advanced detail work, appropriate techniques such as dry brush, lifting, and masking will be discussed and applied. Classes will consist of lectures, demonstrations, individual material experimentation, and working from the model, as well as individual critiques.