There is still time to take a trip (virtually) to Australia this Thursday with Mike Willdridge and his trusty sketchbook. Mike wants to show you how you can capture a scene quickly by simplifying what you see and being selective with the use of paint.
He will share with the joys of making pictures using pen and watercolour wash. Mike says: “This is a great medium for working quickly; mistakes can easily be hidden by the pen and I like to use one with as large a nib as possible.”
You will also learn simple ways to tackle perspective, of great importance in the sketch above, of The Corso in Manly, Australia, with the street disappearing into the horizon, and with big and small trees and figures. As you can see, as well as sketching with his pen, Mike’s use a simple watercolour wash to add interest to the scene. He says:” I chose to use just one colour, but we could use more when we paint this scene together.”
Mike’s Zoom session is live on Thursday 15 April at 3:30 pm Italian time. (2:30 pm UK time. That’s quite early in the morning in the United States and Canada, and in the middle of the night in Australia and New Zealand! But, even if you can’t make the live session, you can still register and receive an edited video of the demonstration to paint along in your own time. See below.) Registration for this exciting online, interactive session is through the Eventbrite platform and you can join up by clicking here. There are full details of the session below, but first I’d just like to show you a couple of other examples of how selecting and simplifying bring the scene to life, sketches made by Mike on his trips to Australia.
The logistics of Mike’s latest online session:
Unlike many online painting programmes, Mike’s will not expect you to ‘look over his shoulder’ for a long demonstration, and perhaps be allowed to ask the odd question or two. No, you will be painting along at more or less the same time, trying out the watercolour techniques that Mike has shown you, step-by-step. He will demonstrate some basic techniques for only a few minutes before you start painting the same subject at home. Then, after you have had your turn, Mike will move onto the next part of the process. Lois Breckon from The Watermill at Posara will be on hand during the session to feed your questions. The session will last a couple of hours.
When you register for the session you will be asked for a donation. Some people ask how much this should be. Our answer? “Like the measure of a Scottish dram: it should offend neither the host nor the guest!” Our Zoom painting demonstrations do take quite a bit of time in preparation and administration and your support is very much appreciated. With your generosity we can plan and run further sessions and, more importantly, provide a regular meeting place for creativity, camaraderie and fun. We hope that you enjoy the international, online painting community that we have created.
When you register you will be provided with two links. The first is the Zoom link for you to join the session. The second link is where you will find a copy of the photograph that you will paint, Mike’s sketchbook painting to show you where you are heading, and a list of equipment and colours for your palette. There is no need to make a preliminary drawing before the session.
After the event, you are invited to email us with your painting to add to the online Gallery. In addition, we will send you a link to an edited video of the session that will enable to you revisit Mike’s step-by-step teaching. That link to register again: just click here.
When you have painted with Mike online, why not join him for real at the Watermill in Tuscany Italy next summer? We would love to welcome you to the Watermill. You can find more details of Mike’s week-long courses, 28 August to 4 September, and 4 to 11 September, here.
