• Introduction-Intermediate
  • Painting

This ONLINE introduction to watercolour course is for people with little to no experience with the medium. We will concentrate on the fundamental watercolour techniques of wet dry, wet into wet and dry brush. In depth discussions about colour theory, colour mixing and technique will be an integral part of the course, as will be demonstrations.

This online version of Introduction to Watercolour, will be comprised of digital images for still life and landscapes, sent prior to each class and followed up with detailed webcam demonstrations. Digitals of paintings will be used as a teaching aid. Students will be asked to email pictures of their paintings prior to the class so that they can be pinned for discussion and critiques.

In depth discussions about colour theory, colour mixing and technique will be an integral part of the course, as will be demonstrations.

Note: The Winter 2021 course is offered in two Parts - each 6 weeks long. These courses can be taken as stand alone courses or Part 2 can be taken as as continuation of Part 1, to further explore the medium. 


Spring 2021: 10 weeks: Tuition: $390

TSA will deliver this course using ZOOM. Prior to the course session, you will receive an invitation for the session(s) via email. You'll need a laptop, desktop or tablet, internet connection with good bandwidth and headset (either wired or wireless). We recommend that you set up a free ZOOM account and be familiar with ZOOM prior to the class beginning.  Here is a link to help you get started: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697

Notes: Brian Hoxha has been teaching at the Toronto School of Art since 2004. Hoxha is also an educator in watercolour and printmaking at the Art Gallery of Ontario and in the T.D.S.B. at Northern S.S., and a long-time member of Open Studio, the artist-run centre and print studio. Hoxha’s work explores the beauty and solace of the natural world, whether in painting or making prints. He particularly finds constant inspiration by working on location in breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, as is evident in his journeys to Northern Ontario, Western Canada, Newfoundland and Montana. Hoxha is currently being represented by Open Studio, Gallery 133, The Denison Gallery, Art Interiors, Tracey Capes F.A., Nouveau Gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan, Gibson Fine Arts in Calgary and the Christina Parker Gallery in St. John’s N.F., as well as by a variety of arts consultants in Toronto.
* This course is not currently open for registration

What you will learn

  • Introduction to watercolour techniques including wet on wet, wet on dry, dry brush, glazing
  • Colour mixing, using a full palette of permanent light-fast colours. Colour theory, colour exploration
  • Composition, emphasizing the focal point
  • Introduction of studies of the technique of Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Edward Hopper, Charles Demuth and others

Materials to Bring

PAINT – A Complete list of Colours  *(The colours in bold are the primary colours - please have at least these for the first class plus white)

  • Titanium white (WN or holbein)
  • Cadmium yellow pale (Winsor & Newton)
  • Permanent rose in (W&N)
  • Winsor Blue (red shade) / phthalo blue
  • Cadmium orange
  • Cadmium Scarlet (WN)
  • Cadmium red deep 
  • Alizarin crimson 
  • Burnt sienna
  • Yellow ochre
  • Sepia 
  • Cadmium green pale (Holbein) (alternative: M.Graham Company’s Permanent Green Pale)
  • Winsor green blue shade (phthalo green) 
  • Winsor violet
  • French ultramarine blue
  • Cobalt blue 
  • Cerulean blue 
  • Cobalt turquoise light (WN)  
  • Paynes gray

Recommended tube paints

  • Winsor & Newton, Holbein, M. Graham Co., Stevensons – all in 5ml watercolours

*One can also choose to begin your watercolour study by using just the primary colours: 

  • Cadmium yellow pale, 
  • Quinacridone red (permanent rose in WN) 
  • Winsor blue (red Shade) otherwise referred to as phthalo blue

Recommended watercolour sets (24) Pan

  • Yarka 24 pan set or Pelican 24 pan set

BRUSHES

  • #12 -24 round synthetic sable
  • #6 round synthetic sable
  • 1" flat synthetic sable
  • #2 or larger rigger brush

(TRY A VARIETY OF SUBSTITUTES IN CHINESE WATERCOLOUR BRUSHES)

PAPER

140 pound smooth/medium/rough

PALETTES

Any plastic or metal palette with ridged reservoirs for mixing, and enough slots for all the colours listed above, with additional room for more colours. Alternatives to store bought palettes include old china or ceramic plates. Some can be found around the sinks in the classroom. Other alternatives include both plastic and styrofoam meat trays.

Recommended Palettes: Robert E. Wood Palette (24 wells, cheapest at Gwartmans), John Pike Palette (20 wells, has air tight lid - can be purchased at Curry's only).

Remember that if you have twenty or so colours, you need a palette with that many pigment wells to facilitate the use of your colours.

BOARDS

Clean, unpainted or varnished 1/2" plywood. (There are some available in under the sink in the classroom.)

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES

  • Sponges, tissue, or paper toweling
  • pencils (HB)
  • gum erasers