Watercolor Figure in the Landscape with Tara Sweeney

Figures animate a landscape but are not limited to humans. Begin or expand your watercolor realism skill set with a photo reference of choice in this weekend workshop. Practice the process of creating a dynamic composition, intentional values, and vibrant color. Simplify shapes and values: explore a three-layer, four-value approach to watercolor with split primary, limited palette color mixing. Build confidence and control with step-by-step demonstration, practice and individualized feedback. You'll receive photo selection and preparation guidelines the weekend before the workshop. All levels of ability are welcome.

Rumriver Art Center's main method of communication is email. If you prefer another communication method, please indicate so in the access considerations box in this registration form.

Date: Saturday, February 18th and Sunday, February 19th, 2023
Time: 9am - 4pm each day (bring a bag lunch)
Cost: $175
Ages: adults 18+
Location: Rumriver Art Center (north studio suite 108)
Teacher: Tara Sweeney
Saint Paul teaching artist, illustrator and author Tara Sweeney has been creating award-winning work for more than forty years. Recently, she co-authored and co-illustrated the 2020 MN Book Award Finalist picture book, A to Zåäö: Playing with History at the American Swedish (University of MN Press, 2019) which inspired the 2020-21 ASI exhibit, extra/ordinary. TPT2’s MN Original showcased her work. She is professor emeritus with Augsburg University where she taught drawing and painting for 25 years. She earned undergraduate degrees in studio art and textile design from the University of WI, and an MFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She is a signature member of the National Watercolor, Red River Watercolor and MN Watercolor Societies. Follow her @tarasweeneyart on Instagram and at tarasweeneyart.com.


Class materials are NOT included. Participants must bring their own class supplies. Below is what Tara requires participants bring to this class.

PROFESSIONAL QUALITY PAPER: Minimum size of 9x12 good quality watercolor BLOCK, or quarter sheet, a surface to mount it on and tape or staples to restrain it. You are welcome to work bigger if you wish but generally no larger than quarter sheet size is a good starting point. I use Arches or Winsor Newton 140# cold press watercolor paper.

PROFESSIONAL QUALITY TUBE WATERCOLORS: no hard pan cakes please. I use
M. Graham, Daniel Smith and QoR watercolors. If you already have professional quality tube colors, use what you have. At a minimum, have a split primary limited palette of at least 2 yellows, 2 blues, 2 reds, and paynes gray. Split primaries lean in different temperature directions. For example, pthalo blue leans toward yellow (it’s a green-blue) while ultramarine leans toward red (it’s a violet blue). A sample palette:quinacridone nickel gold; hansa yellow; quinacridone rose, napthol or pyrrol red, pthalo blue; ultramarine blue as well as paynes gray and cobalt blue.

PALETTE: must have good-sized wells for laying out tube colors AND good-sized mixing areas. I use Jones Travel round with space for 12 colors in the base and four divided mixing wells in the lid.

BRUSHES: I use three brushes: Silver Black Velvet jumbo round small mop or a squirrel mop for wet into wet first layer washes; a #10-12 sable or pseudo sable watercolor round for middle layer washes; and a springy synthetic #10 watercolor round for controlled final layer dry brush and details. At a minimum, bring these three brushes or equivalent shapes, sizes and quality to deliver the same load.

OTHER TOOLS: -2B-6B drawing pencil and hand sharpener-kneaded eraser-3 rinsing containers -small spray bottle-absorbent cloth or rag-paper towels-tracing paper-graphite transfer paper- ¼ inch
NEUTRAL PH artist tape. No bright blue painter’s masking tape please.-table easel or a way to prop up your block or support it at an angle to paint

REFERENCE PHOTOS: Guidelines for selecting photos and preparing a drawing will be emailed to registered participants the weekend before the workshop.