THE FOUR WATERCOLOR PILLARS
Just about any mark you want to make is done by controlling one of these 4 things- Shapes, Edges, Color or Value. Come with me as we explore how to control the basic principles of watercolor painting. The classes build a stacked skill set over the course of 8 weeks. However, you can buy them all , buy just a few, or purchase each individually as you go.
Each class is available for purchase a la carte.
Each class includes 30-60 minutes of pre-recorded, preliminary videos.
Each live session will be recorded, and you'll have access to the recording.
Your instructor. Me! Steve Berry.
The 4 Pillars Bundle
Date and Time- 2/11- 4/8, 9-12 am PST
This will be a series of 5 live, zoom 3-hour intensives. We'll meet every other Saturday for 8 weeks. It includes everything below on this page- all 5 live sessions, and all the pre-recorded preliminary videos for each lesson. It also includes recordings of all the live sessions.
Get yourself off on to the right path in your watercolor journey. Learn about the 4 Pillars and how you can start controlling your shapes, team up with water and edges, get consistent color mixes, and use color to its best advantage. Plus, you have the recordings forever to go back to!
Click the "Buy Now" button to see all payment options, including installments.
Intro to Composition- Photos and Notans
Date and Time- Saturday, 2/11, 9-12 am PST
In this live, zoom 3-hour intensive, I'll be introducing you to the 1st Pillar: Shapes. Everything with composition starts here. You'll get access to pre-recorded video content to get you up to speed, so that when the live session comes we can hit the ground running. I'll provide the photos. We'll be making notans, studying masters, and editing and improving reference photos. In an effort to focus on fewer variables, we'll only be using black ink and white gouache for this class.
*Please Note- all painting in this class is done only with black ink and white gouache
Wet-into-Wet Painting, pt. 1
Date and Time- Saturday, 2/25, 9-12 am PST
In this live, zoom 3-hour intensive, I'll be introducing you to the 2nd Pillar: Edges. That means wet-into-wet painting. Yum!! You'll get access to special, pre-recorded, preliminary video content to get you up to speed.
Learn about the Watercolor Clock and the Water Cycle as we get our brushes wet. We'll practice timing, and various methods to assess how loaded your brush and paper is. In an effort to focus on fewer variables, we won't be using color in this class.
*Please Note- this class will only use black watercolor pigment
Wet-into-Wet Painting, pt. 2
Date and Time- Saturday, 3/11, 9-12 am PST
Pre-requisite- Wet-into-Wet Painting, pt. 1
In this live, zoom 3-hour intensive, we'll go deeper into Edges and how they relate to Notans. You'll get access to special, pre-recorded, preliminary video content. I will presume all attendees have participated in the first wet-into-wet class and watched the new videos.
Notans and wet-into-wet painting have a powerful relationship, and understanding one can help you excel at the other. They both simplify shapes and help to remove inconsequential details. We'll do live demos and explore the ins and outs of how to get compelling effects.
Intro to Mixing and Using Color
Date and Time- Saturday, 3/25, 9-12 am PST
In this live, zoom 3-hour intensive, I'll introduce you to the 3rd and 4th Pillars: Color and Value. They go hand in hand. You'll get access to special, pre-recorded, preliminary video content to get you up to speed. I will presume you have watched it before the live class begins.
Color can be very intimidating, but we'll work on creating a consistent repeatable method for mixing colors by doing what I call "Navigating the Color Wheel". I'll also introduce you to the Artist's Color Wheel and how to use it. Finally, we'll explore the idea that color has Value, and how we can use it to best effect.
Using Color Contrasts
Date and Time- Saturday, 4/8, 9-12 am PST
Pre-requisite- Intro to Mixing and Using Color
In this live, zoom 3-hour intensive, we'll go deeper into the final 2 Pillars: Color and Value. You'll get access to special, pre-recorded, preliminary video content to get you up to speed. I will presume all attendees have participated in the first Color class and have watched the new videos.
In this class, we'll explore deeper how to use color to best effect, by using color contrasts such as Warm vs. Cool, Saturation, or Compliments. We'll do live demos and explore the ins and outs of how to get compelling effects.