Syllabus watercolor

IIntroduction to Watercolor NSCC
Introduction to Watercolor Item: 7062 Jon Jarvis
12:30 PM - 3:00 PM Building: Sand Point Education Center
Sessions: 6 Sa Location: 6208 60TH AVE NE
Room posted at entrance 1/13/2007 - 2/17/2007

Instructor: Jon Rader Jarvis OFFICE HOURS by appointment
REQUIRED TEXT: A blank journal or sketch book
OPTIONAL TEXTS: None / Handouts & Reference Bibliography
COURSE GOALS AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES: The student will acquire critical skills to evaluate painting in most available media. The student will acquire additional skills in the materials and techniques of watercolor painting. Watercolor painting is a learned skill. This class offers a theoretical curriculum rather than a design curriculum, where evaluative skills are as important as acquired expressive skills.
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: For every assigned painting day inside class there will be an additional painting required outside class and preparatory drawings in the sketchbook. There will be class demonstrations on the practical aspects of watercolor painting. Constructive critiques will be conducted by class members and the instructor.

INTRODUCTION
Watercolor Painting is the one of the oldest painting forms. Unlike drawing, or canvas painting watercolor is a form said to be, "done with immediacy". We don't doodle with paint and except as children we don't "play" with paint. Even though it is considered “less serious than oil, there is a cultural imperative which states that watercolor paintings are serious and hard to do. We approach the process of watercolor painting as if it was the most difficult of painting forms.
Watercolor classes begin, like other painting classes, with the basics of line and value. We test perception with several exercises designed to exhibit the peculiarities of color and how we respond to it. We seek to demonstrate the abilities we have acquired: the rules of perspective, the basics of proportion and color and their use as a means of personal expression. As such, the process of watercolor painting is a means to an end, a finished painting itself.
Watercolor Painting has not always been the first place to express a new visual art movement. With so much process-oriented art, taking the time to place more emphasis on the process is one of the benefits of watercolor. The versatility of the watercolor page is always surprising. It can adapt to immediacy concerns or the most finely detailed illustrative work.
For all it’s immediacy and speed, watercolor painting can be as intensely fine and detailed as any other form. The flow of the paint and simplicity of water and paper make it natural starting place for any beginning painter or provides the opportunity needed to show expertise for the experienced professional.

Beginning Watercolor - MATERIALS LIST
Please bring: paint, brushes and sketch book to the first class.
PAINT (bring what you have or start with those below if you don’t have your own already)

DRAWING PENCILS, etc
1 11” x 14” Sketchbook or larger spiral bound that lies flat , one brand is Canson*
1 small set of -- Watercolor Crayons (Cran d’Ache or similar)
1 light blue photo-litho pencil or watercolor lt.blue colored pencil (optional)
1+White Conté or white Carbon Pencil
1 Gum Eraser -- large or 1 White Castell Eraser, Magic or Mars Statler *
1 Kneaded Eraser

PAPER
Recommended - a watercolor block (hot pressed or cold pressed) Aquarelle Arches, Canson or Sennelier--
300gm/m2 (140 lbs. 12 1/8" by 16 1/8"), 31 x 41 cm (or larger)
[or substitute individual watercolor sheets 22” x 30” – example: Rives BFK, Fabriano, Lanaquarelle, Twinrocker, etc. – your choice

BRUSHES
1 #10 Round (White synthetic or better) *
2 or 3, #6 Rounds
1 - ¾” Flat or Bright (White synthetic or better) *
2 or 3, ¼” Flats or Brights
2” inexpensive varnish brush

PAINT WC set with pans & cake watercolor or ( 5 - 14ml tubes of Winsor Newton Artist’s Watercolor paint) Winsor Red, Blue, Yellow, Burnt Umber, Sepia *
(other paints and colors will be recommended in class)
Additional optional colors as needed: Antwerp Blue, Manganese Blue, Cobalt Blue, Crimson Lake, Hookers Green, Cobalt Violet, Davy’s Gray, Sienna, Permanent Magenta, Cadmium Red, Cadmium Yellow Pale.

MISCELLANEOUS
1 Plastic Watercolor Palette any will do, but the covered rectangle is best.*
1 Portfolio, large -- can be improvised -- [Bought (or made)] - optional
1 or more Drawing Board(s) 19"x 25" or larger (can be improvised using 1/2"Gator board[$1 to $50]) - optional *
1 Roll of Gummed Paper tape 2" wide (the thin white tape is best) *
1 Natural sponge
1 small plastic plant mister (spray bottle) *
1 small piece of the end of a white wax candle, or chunk of bees wax or paraffin
1 or more paper stretching boards 24” x 34” or larger – AC ext. plywood – wait to purchase
*( indicates items Required for the first week unless marked optional)

Recommended optional Materials
1 small set of -- Watercolor crayons - optional
1 small set of -- Watercolor Pencils - optional
1 Art box, small plastic fishing or toolbox - optional
suggested additional items
1 18" ruler

Alternate color palette(not required):
Materials:
Watercolor paint in tubes -- a full palette: Hansa Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Naples Yellow, Cad Red Medium, Pyro Red or Quinacridone Red, Magenta, Thalo Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Manganese Blue, Hookers Green, Burnt Umber, Umber, Sienna, Sepia, Cobalt Violet. (additional optional items are in italics type)