Watercolour Foundations - half-day workshops

About these workshops:
Due to growing interest in learning watercolour, and with my regular Wednesday afternoon class now full, I’m excited to offer a new Watercolour Foundations series.

These half-day workshops are for beginners or anyone wanting to strengthen core watercolour skills. Each session covers different techniques, with some overlap for practice and refinement.

Take any session in any order. Attend all four, for a complete foundation.

Upcoming Workshops:

• Mon 9 Feb 2026 | 1:15–4:15 pm
• Mon 16 Feb 2026 | 1:15–4:15 pm

More dates coming soon.

Flyer, materials list & Q&A below.

WATERCOLOUR FOUNDATIONS - MATERIALS LIST

Support boards and watercolour paper will be supplied to ensure consistency in learning outcomes.

Brushes

• Round Watercolour Brushes – Well-pointed, sizes 6, 12, or 14

• Round Chinese Reservoir Brush (available at Musgraves Art Supplies, https://musgraveart.com.au/product/large-refillable-sumi-brush/

• Extra Brushes – Any additional sizes you have.

Other Materials

· Water Containers (x 2) (also available to borrow at the studio)

· Apron

· Box of tissues (box can be used as a support)

· Palette – Ensure it has large wells for mixing. Avoid coloured plates or dishes.

If buying the flower palette option pictured here, you will need at least 2 of these.

· Graphite Pencil – 1 x HB, or 2B well sharpened

· Household sponge (must be cellular type)

· Masking Tape – 1” or ¾”

· Eraser – Kneadable and/or crumbly brown art Factis eraser

· Pipette or small squeeze bottle for adding water (see pic)
Watercolour Paints - Student-Grade
Essential Colours – Tubes preferred

These are student-grade paints, chosen as an economical option for those beginning. As you continue with watercolour painting, you may wish to upgrade to artist-quality paints, which offer stronger pigment and greater vibrancy.

If you already own watercolours and would like to use them instead, please email me a photo of your colours before the workshop so I can confirm they’ll be suitable.Please bring one tube of each of the colours listed below (or the same pigment number in another brand).

Suggested Colours:

· Cool Yellow: Winsor & Newton Cotman Lemon Yellow Hue (PY175)

· Warm Yellow: Daler Rowney Aquafine Indian Yellow Hue (PY15)

· Cool Red (Magenta): Daler Rowney Aquafine Alizarin Crimson Hue (PR176)

· Cool Blue (Cyan): Daler Rowney Aquafine Phthalo Blue (PB15)

· Violet/Purple: Winsor & Newton Cotman Dioxazine Purple (PV23)

· Sap Green: Daler Rowney Aquafine Sap Green (PY73 / PB29)

· Dark: Daler Rowney Aquafine Payne’s Grey (PBk7, PB29)

Or: Watercolour Paints - Artist-Grade

You may chooe to purchase 'Artist Grade' Paint Tubes. These are more expensive however, much better quality. They are much richer in pigment and last longer.

You need only one from each of the following six colour groups:

1. Cool or Neutral Yellow

• Daniel Smith Nickel Azo Yellow (PY150)

• Winsor & Newton or Schmincke Transparent Yellow (PY150)

• Holbein Imidazolone Yellow (PY154)

• Art Spectrum Azo Yellow (PY3)

2. Cool Red (Magenta)

• Daniel Smith Quinacridone Rose (PV19)

• Winsor & Newton, Art Spectrum or MameriBlu Permanent Rose (PV19)

• Schmincke or Holbein Quinacridone Red (PV19)

3. Cool Blue (Cyan)

• Daniel Smith Phthalo Blue (Green Shade) (PB15:3)

• Winsor & Newton Winsor Blue (Green Shade) or Art Spectrum Pthalo Blue (PB15)

• Schmincke or Holbein Phthalo Blue or MaimeriBlu Primary Blue Cyan (PB15:3)

4. Warm Yellow or Gold

• Winsor & Newton,Transparent Gold Deep (PY150, PR179, PV19)

• Schmincke Quinacridone Gold (PY150, PR101)

• Holbein Quinacridone Gold (PO48 PY150)

• Daniel Smith Quinacridone Gold (PY150, PO48)

• MaimeriBlu or Winsor & Newton Indian Yellow (PY110)

5. Violet

• Daniel Smith, Holbein, MaimeriBlu or Schmincke Dioxazine Violet (PV23)

• Winsor & Newton Winsor Violet (PV23)

6. Neutralising Dark

• Schmincke Payne’s Grey Bluish (PBk6, PB15:6, PB15:2)

• Winsor & Newton or Daniel Smith or MaimeriBlu Payne’s Grey (PBk6, PB15, PV19).

• Art Spectrum Neutral Tint (PBk6, PV19, PB15:3)

Optional Colours

• Any other transparent & staining artist-quality paints that you may already own

Info: Monday 9 February (Workshop 1)
We’ll start with a relaxed introduction to materials and explore washes on wet and dry paper, brush control, and water-to-pigment ratios. Using a simple template, you’ll get a feel for lightening and darkening colour, mixing paint consistencies, and building confidence with brushwork and layered washes.

Monday 16 February (Workshop 2)
We’ll begin with a short revision of Workshop 1, then you will apply those learned skills to a small painting of either flowers or gum leaves. We’ll also learn how to change colour with overlapping washes, add detail, and experiment with some wet-on-wet watercolour painting.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Royal Queensland Art Society Gold Coast, 25 Broadbeach Boulevard, Broadbeach, Australia

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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