ROGER JACKSON
In February 2025, Roger Jackson gave our group a three hour workshop in acrylic painting. He focused primarily on water scenes, but provided several other tips and techniques that he uses. A couple that he started off with was to "Trust your eye" and "Don't get bogged down on details".
Some other notable points include:
Below are some pictures from his workshop
Most of the artists started off the session with a blank canvas, while others took the opportunity to touch up works in progress
Note the different types of setups used by the artists
Some other notable points include:
- Composition is key!
- Remember the "rule of thirds" when placing points of interest
- Reflections are perpendicular to the eye, while shadows are 180 degrees from the light source
- The colour of water depends on what's above, what's below, and what's in it
- For movement with the water, try "rocking the brush" when applying the paint
- Fewer colours will give you a better harmony
- Thalo blue/green paint... add a little white and it becomes greener, a little burnt umber for darkening
- Thalo green and burnt umber for a blackish colour
- Blue and burnt umber gives a green hint
- French Ultramarine blue for a warmer tone
- Titanium white is more vibrant, whereas Zinc white is more soft
- A spray bottle is handy to keep the paint moist for a longer working time
- A pallet knife with a little paint on it is handy to use as a paint chip
Please visit Roger's website
https://www.rogerjackson.ca/
Below are some pictures from his workshop
Most of the artists started off the session with a blank canvas, while others took the opportunity to touch up works in progress
Note the different types of setups used by the artists
HAROLD ALLANSON
In March 2024 we had the incredible fortune to have Harold Allanson come to our Wednesday Art Group. Harold gave a workshop and "clinic" on watercolour, freedom from our internal criticisms, how to dissect a photo to get to the image we want to paint. How to play and use the happy accidents to our best advantage.
Some of his words:
Please visit Harold's website at Vancouver Island Artist | Crofton | Harold Allanson
Harold Allanson - Realistic Watercolour Artist from Crofton BC (visionsarttour.ca)
Harold Allanson | Raincoast
The following are just a few of the pictures taken at the workshop. Click on each image to get the full picture. Enjoy!!
Some of his words:
- You have a cell phone? Use it, take lots of pictures BUT don't let the photograph dictate what you want to do
- Paint your stuff
- When measuring use the same ruler, subtle changes will affect the overall outcome
- With carbon paper/tracing paper use a hard metal ball for tracing
- Be careful of masking fluid as it resists and changes the surface of the paper
- Don't paint the eye, paint the shape of the eye
- Composition, balancing, value changes
- Where are you going to start? I haven't a clue!
- Painting is starting with a mistake and spending the next two weeks fixing it, then throw it away
- Let your colours mix themselves
- It takes a 10 year old kid to say the hair is wrong
- Don't overwork it
- Don't be afraid
Please visit Harold's website at Vancouver Island Artist | Crofton | Harold Allanson
Harold Allanson - Realistic Watercolour Artist from Crofton BC (visionsarttour.ca)
Harold Allanson | Raincoast
The following are just a few of the pictures taken at the workshop. Click on each image to get the full picture. Enjoy!!
Jim Malo
Jim gave a, well attended, workshop and demonstration using acrylics on black gesso canvas. For some of the members this was the first time looking at the reverse of creating a piece. Jim can be found at his workshop called "The Tool Shed" Jim Malo | Facebook
The following are the final results from the workshop.
Sue Bosecker
Sue gave the membership a super workshop on the basics of watercolour techniques. Great time to review not only those basic skills but
also tips, tricks, tools and equipment that Sue has developed and used.
also tips, tricks, tools and equipment that Sue has developed and used.
Cim MacDonald
You might want to check out Cim's website at: https://www.cimmacdonald.ca/
Cim MacDonald gave a wonderful workshop to the Crofton Art Group on 20 October 2021.
A consummate artist, teacher and supporter she guided us to step outside our comfort zones.
Through the application of wax and fluid acrylic inks in abstract art like designs.
Fun, new and liberating!
Here you see Cim working on one of her original pieces with the wax machine. Tracing out a loose design to create a resist.
After applying the wax, she then flooded the work with water and applied acrylic ink paints to enhance the original design. The picture doesn't show as well as in reality. The wax resist and the application of paint highlighted and enhanced the original design. It really popped!!
Above you see a picture submitted by one of our members for Cim to embellish with wax and enhance with acrylic paints. To the group we didn't think it needed needed any further work. But wait.....there's more.....
Here is Cim working on the submitted work. Note that the piece is upside down so the class can see how it is progressing.
Taking a small break to assess if anything more needs to be done.
And there you go! Watching how Cim applied the wax resist and minimal colour additions to the original work
created a different feel and tone.
created a different feel and tone.