Andie Thrams: Color Mixing Magic: Summer’s Palette

Summary Description

Learn the fundamentals of color mixing as you paint a double-primary color wheel and a series of summer-inspired abstract studies using watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. You’ll bind a hand-painted folio to hold your studies and notes as a lasting color reference.

Detailed Description

Mixing colors is one of the most delightful parts of art making, but it can be frustrating without a clear grasp of the basics. This course takes a deep dive into the magic of color, showing you how to mix the colors you want with increasing ease.

Working both systematically and intuitively with watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil, you’ll paint a series of summer-inspired abstract studies and create a beautiful double-primary color wheel. You’ll also bind a folio painted in shimmering seasonal colors to hold your studies and observations for future reference and inspiration.

We’ll explore pigment properties such as transparency, opacity, staining, granulation, and permanence, and discuss how to make your own paints and inks. On outdoor forays, we’ll observe and collect leaves, flowers, lichen, and other summer subjects. In the studio, you’ll discover how colors interact, create mood, and glow; which colors inspire you; and how layering transparent and opaque paints can capture nature’s richness and complexity. This knowledge carries across all media, from printing ink to acrylic, watercolor to gouache, and beyond!

Skill Level: All

Required Tools & Materials Supplied by Student

• See Andie’s website for details on recommended art supplies. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything below; Andie will have extras on hand.
• Any notebook or journal you already have and use
• Metal straight edge, at least 24” long
• Cutting knife with sharp blades
• Bone folder
• No. 2 or HB drawing pencil
• Pencil sharpener
• Any colored pencils you already have, such as cream and/or light gray, and light and dark greens
• Eye dropper
• Zip-lock or other bag for collecting leaves, twigs, etc.
• 2 or 3 small containers for water, ink, paste, and paint (yogurt containers or jars are fine)
• Small mister or spray bottle
• Rags or paper towels
• Sit-upon, folding stool, or whatever you need to sit comfortably outdoors (Andie likes a small lightweight tarp spread on the ground with a foam pad to sit on)
• Pack or tote to carry your things outdoors
• Clothing to be comfortable outdoors in varied conditions
• Stiff brush for paste

Optional Recommended Tools & Materials

• Any watercolor brushes you already have
• Any watercolor and/or gouache tube colors you already have
• Drawing/dip pen nib with holder of any type
• Any type of black or brown ink

Tools & Materials Supplied by Instructor

• Prepared artist-quality watercolor paper for painting studies and folio creation
• Large and small watercolor brushes
• Pentel Aquash water brush
• Folding watercolor palette pre-filled with artist-grade colors (for each student to use during the workshop): quinacridone rose; ultramarine blue; phthalo or manganese blue; lemon yellow, cadmium yellow pale, or hansa yellow light; cadmium yellow deep or new gamboge; sap green; chromium oxide green; purple; orange; burnt sienna or burnt umber; and quinacridone gold
• The instructor will also provide:
• Inks, gouache, mediums, and additional watercolors
• Sample projects and examples
• Local plant materials for subject matter
• Plant holders
• Printed handouts
• Boards and clips to hold paper while working outdoors
• Paint mixing containers

Instructor Bio

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