Watercolor WORKSHOP in Bellevue January 15, 2012

Warming Up Your Watercolor Winter Landscapes
One Day Workshop
Sunday, January 15, 2012    11am - 4 pm

$75   Register with Daniel Smith Bellevue Store  (425) 643-1781

Most of the time when we think of a snowy winter landscape we envision a crisp clear sunny winter day where the colors of winter shadows are cool hues of blues and lavenders. On an bright overcast day a soft blanket of clouds will warm up a snowy landscape with gentle shades of gray and soft tones of browns and pinks. These scenes are not always dull or dreary but glowing and alive with rich diffused color setting the mood of peace and calm. Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors with several selected colors of Daniel Smith’s Prima Teks are excellent pigment choices with properties that work well for many different watercolor techniques Susie will demonstrate in this workshop. Test your skills at working wet-in-wet, lifting, glazing, and working with Daniel Smith Masking fluid as you learn to paint soft transitions between snowy shadows and a Northwest sunbreak. This workshop will cover some advanced skills to challenge the experienced artist but Susie also will have patterns and simplified subjects to accommodate a beginner as well. Photos will be available for use and/or purchase (payable to Susie) or bring your own winter photos to use.
This workshop is not limited to advanced watercolor artists but some watercolor experience will be helpful.
Seating is limited. REGISTER TODAY! 425-643-1781


Preview Demo January 8, 2012   12noon and 2pm

Bellevue Daniel Smith
15112 N.E. 24th Street
Bellevue, Washington 98052


See you there!   SUSIE

Watercolor Demo -- Bellevue, WA

Warm Up Your Winter Watercolor Landscapes

with Susie Short

2 FREE DEMOS

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

at 12 pm & 2 pm @ Daniel Smith Bellevue Store

Come see my examples of warm winter landscapes painted with DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolors and selected DANIEL SMITH PrimaTek Watercolors. Watch my watercolor paintings come to life as I demonstrate techniques showing how to use DANIEL SMITH Masking fluid
to reserve warm whites when working wet-in-wet. I will also share tips for
lifting and retrieving highlights and sun patterns when using selected PrimaTeks.
If you are a landscape painter….You do not want to miss this demo!

One Day Workshop January 15, 2012
11am - 4pm
Call Bellevue Daniel Smith to register  (425) 643-1781

Bellevue Daniel Smith
15112 N.E. 24th Street
Bellevue, Washington 98052 
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Happy Holidays! Greeting Card by Susie Short

Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

When I sit down to paint winter cards I usually don't have an exact composition in mind. I like to paint on 4 or 5 at a time and let them evolve as I go. Do I ever mess one up? YES!

But I like to give myself permission to try something new and if it doesn't work try again or do something different.

One of my favorite techniques for starting a winter landscape card is using a plastic card (expired credit or gift card) to "scrape" or "scratch" out the white birch or aspen tree. Then I add the darker bark features and darker evergreen behind the 'scraped trees' to make them stand out.

If you are interested in learning more about this technique you will find instructions on my watercolor tips page on my website. Try it!

For my original cards I use blank greeting cards made for watercolor. Two brands that work well for me are Strathmore Watercolor Cards and Canson Watercolor Greeting Cards. Both come with envelopes in economy packs of 30-50 cards. Enough to goof up a couple and still have plenty of cards to paint on!

Of course you can always use regular watercolor paper and cut it to greeting card size.

If you do try this technique I'd love to hear your comments.

Happy Painting!

SUSIE

Winter Landscape Christmas Card

Season's Greetings!

Brrrr! It's been snowing at my house in Washington state. Talk about inspiration for winter snow paintings! This is another card I painted with a winter landscape theme. It is a composition that "happened" as I added brushstrokes to my paper. Instead of being painted from a real place it evolved from my imagination. I like to paint on several cards at the same time and while one card is drying I add something to the next card. Its always surprising how a little detail in one card is just what the other card needs too. That happened with the rocks in this card. And after the rocks I decided to add the hint of frozen water. I like the final results, don't you?

Being a gal from Texas where it doesn't snow much and when it does it usually melts almost as fast as it hits the ground I try to take advantage of "snow days" and soak up as much as I can. I do take photos for reference but nothing beats good observation and painting from memory.

Thanks for your comments! I enjoy reading each one.

SUSIE