10/04 Rustic Still Life Painting Workshop
Unleash your artistic prowess by mastering the techniques of painting rustic surfaces imbued with the aged patinas of old wood and rusty metal using watercolor.
Description
Unleash your artistic prowess by mastering the techniques of painting rustic surfaces imbued with the aged patinas of old wood and rusty metal using watercolor. Gain insights into transforming distressed surfaces into captivating works by learning the interplay of texture, light, and shadows. Comprehensive step-by-step methods, coupled with easy to follow practice lessons designed to craft effective illusions to elevate realism.
The primary focus of the class will be on painting still life that features old wood, rusty metal, and surfaces adorned with intriguing textures. Learn the art of layering, masking, stamping, stipple, succumbing, lifting, resisting, and scraping to achieve convincing effects.
This course caters to experienced beginners and intermediate artists seeking to enhance their painting skills.
About the Instructor
Rafael DeSoto, Jr is a lifelong accomplished artist who has been painting and teaching watercolors for the past 40 years. His students attain confidence quickly through expert guidance and personal attention.
Rafael is a member of many local art organizations and exhibits nationally and locally. His studio is located in San Carlos where he also conducts private lessons.
Please see Rafael’s work here: rafaeldesotojr.com/works
Supply List
PAPER:
One of the most important things you should have for painting watercolors is good quality paper. One
way to make sure it’s quality paper is to see if it says 100% Cotton and 100% Acid Free on the cover.
Brands like Arches, Hahnemuhel, Fabrino Artistico, Fluid, Windsor & Newton are great. Make sure you
get Cold Press not hot press. Paper weight should be 140lb./300gm. Paper comes in pads, blocks or
large single sheets. Pads have one side that is glued, blocks are glued on all 4 sides. Single sheets
need to be to cut to size prior to class. Ideal paper sizes for this class are 9” x 12” or 10” x 14”.
If you bring a pad of paper you will need a stiff board to tape your paper to. Cardboard is fine,
FoamCore is better, GatorFoam is best (but expensive). MDF board or Masonite are also fine but will
weigh more.
PAINT:
Watercolor paint can vary between manufacturers. Brands like Windsor & Newton, Holbein, Daniel
Smith, M. Graham, Sennelier and PWC are very good. 5ml tubes will be less expensive than 15 ml
tubes, but not all companies make the smaller 5ml. Paint also comes in “pans” or cakes. It will be
difficult to match the colors listed below in pans so tube paint is recommended.
Colors needed for this class are…
(Primary colors): Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Cerulean Blue, Prussian Blue.
(Earth colors): Naples Yellow, Yellow Ocher, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber, Hookers Green.
(Tinting colors): Payne’s Gray, Lunar Black.
Here is an inexpensive tube paint set as an alternative to buying individual colors listed above.
PALETTE:
It’s important to have a decent palette with individual wells. You will need a good size mixing area of at
least 3-4” for making washes. Some inexpensive palettes can be found on Amazon. Look for an
airtight watercolor portable palette with 18 wells and 2 mixing areas, about 5” x 10.5” for about $10. If
you find a palette without a mixing area bring along a small white porcelain plate.
BUSHES:
One can easily spend a fortune on brushes but it isn’t necessary. You really only need about 3 or 4 in
this class. Brushes come in 4 basic shapes; flat, round, oval and filbert. Synthetic brushes are less
expensive than natural hair and last longer. I use flat brushes with a longer hair size to hold more paint.
If possible, try and get a 1” flat or oval brush for big washes. Here is a brush set found on Amazon for
$19.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES:
One gum (kneaded) eraser. Avoid pink erasers as they can score the paper and leave crumbs in the
paint. A roll of artists masking tape. A pencil from HB to 2B, nothing harder or softer. An old credit card
or plastic card for scraping. A case to carry all your supplies.
Water containers, paper towels and masking fluid will be supplied, along with all reference photos.
Please email Rafael at desotostudio@gmail.com with any questions.