Watercolor Jumpstart Preclass

Watercolor Jumpstart Watercolor Jumpstart Preclass

Welcome to the beginning of a wonderful watercolor journey! This class is taught in a sketchbook – and it’s a super-easy one to make, so don’t worry!

Before we start…a little housekeeping

I retain the copyright to the content you are learning in class. That means…

Do not sell or give away the concepts from my classes – you may not re-teach my instruction contained or created within these lessons.
Do not post a video tutorial or step by step photo tutorial of your own redraw of class content.
Do not repost any handouts you receive in class.

However…I love to see students making strides and taking this teaching and personalizing it with your own skills.

DO make your own designs and develop your own style! I love that!
DO gift your creations made with these techniques, of course!

At the bottom of each lesson you’ll see some ways to share your homework and ask questions, so that’ll be handy for you.

Supplies

In the following video is a discussion of class supplies that will be needed, and some optional items as well. The full supply list with links is at the end of this lesson page as well as in the PDF in the Resources section.

Create your sketchbook (one or the other of these)

This folding method is NOT my design for a sketchbook, but is certainly a dream for a class like this! See the downloadable pdf in the Resources section below if written instructions would help as well.

You may alternatively make one of Pearfleur’s sketchbooks from a 9×12 pad, see her gorgeous video below.

Quick tip to set up another kind of palette:

Downloadable supply list

- Download to take to your local art store (includes directions to fold the sketchbook)

Watercolor Jumpstart Supplies

Brushes:

Silver Brush Black Velvet Brushes: I recommend both sizes, but if only getting one, get the 8:

Silver Brush Black Velvet Round #8 BLICK – AMZ
Silver Brush Black Velvet Round #12 BLICK – AMZ
DaVinci Cosmotop Spin Brush:
Mottler Flat Wash 30

Watercolor Paper:

Arches Cold Press full sheet
Saunders Waterford full sheet
You may wish to have pads but class lessons focus on the sketchbook.
1. Arches Cold Press Watercolor Paper Pad 9×12
2. Arches Rough Watercolor Paper Pad 9×12

Watercolor Paints:

Daniel Smith, Essentials 5ml Set of 6

1. Includes: Hansa Yellow Light, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue – Green Shade, New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlet, French Ultramarine.
2. You can use other brands of these colors; please get artist grade, not student grade (ie not Cotman).
3. Note that if your yellow is called “sunshine” and red is “candy apple,” your paints are likely not artist grade; please do get the Essentials set. For other experimenting in class you are welcome to use whatever paints and colors you wish.

Instructor’s palette is NOT necessary for this course! Use the colors you have; many students have completed this course just mixing from the 6 essentials. Colors on her palette at the time of shooting this course:

A palette is not required (you can squeeze blobs of paint on a plate or tile). Instructor uses metal palettes but a plastic one is okay too; be sure you have at least 3 decently sized mixing wells.

1. 1. Schmincke Watercolor Palette
  2. Watercolor Half Pans

Spray bottle (or use an empty household spray bottle – make sure it’s clean!)

Tools and more:

1. Compass and protractor set – imperative for creating the color wheels
2. Erasers – Factis or Kneaded eraser
3. Ruler – any kind.
4. ScorTape — or any doublestick strong tape for assembly of the sketchbook
5. xacto knife
6. Ampersand Hardbord – optional (if painting outside of the sketchbook this is a good surface to tape your papr onto)
7. Sharpie marker

Shown in the supply video but not used in class:

Quick links to share your work wherever you like:

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