PAINTING KOI IN WATERCOLORS WITH Annie Strack (ZOOM)
February 10th -11th, 2025
A 6-hour workshop held Zoom from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM each day
Member Registration Opens: December 5, 2024
Member Fee $70
Public Registration Opens: December 19, 2024
Non-Member Fee $110
Registration closes February 3, 2025
Not a Member? Consider joining as an Associate Member $30/year
To register for this program you must be a member.
Join us here.
Program Description
All artists, whether they are new to watercolors or experienced painters, will benefit from learning these tips for creating spectacular paintings. Multiple watercolor techniques are covered in the workshop, including glazing, washes, dry brush, masking, lifting, & more. Students will gain an understanding of the properties of different paints, learn how to successfully mix colors, and how to use values and color temperatures to enhance their compositions. Students will watch and learn as each painting step and technique is explained and demonstrated with clarity that makes the lessons easy to absorb.
We will paint TWO paintings in this workshop. Using the reference photos provided, students will draw the koi onto their watercolor papers. Drawings are also provided – students may printout and trace the drawings onto their watercolor paper. We will start with layering an underpainting of shadow color on the fish to depict dimension or “roundness.” Then we will paint the background water. This is painted very wet and is done in layers with lots of paint. We will use masking fluid to mask out a few scales on the fish. After that is dry, we will paint the details of the koi using bold brushstrokes and bright colors on top of the underpainting, which allows the shape of the fish to show though the colors.
Supplies:
Two cold pressed or rough watercolor papers. Either blocked or mounted, at least 140 lbs. Annie will be working on 12x16 blocked paper by Hahnemuehle, and suggests you work on paper that is a similar size. We will be doing two paintings in this workshop, and we will switch back and forth between them as we wait for things to dry.
Making fluid, Paper towels.
Scrap paper for testing brushstrokes, and at least one piece to practice the background upon.
Paints:
You must have Indigo, Green-Gold, New Gamboge, Chinese White, Payne’s grey (or any other black), Cadmium Red (or a similar bright red), Cadmium Orange (or similar bright orange), Lemon yellow (or any bright yellow), Alizarin (or any similar cool shade of red).
Also, bring along any other colors you like to use. Annie will use a lot of different colors of blue and maybe even some browns and purples or other greens, but it’s mostly about value and chroma not so much about color! So, bring your regular palette of colors in addition to the necessary ones listed. The colors of the fish are spontaneous –Annie only uses the photos as reference for the basic shapes and never match the colors exactly!
Brushes:
You’ll need a big soft mop to paint the background. Annie uses squirrel mops, about a size 5 or 6. For the fishes, Annie uses a smaller mop – about a size 2 or 3, or a kolinsky round, size about a 10 or 12. Annie also uses some kolinsky rounds in smaller sizes about 4 or 6 for the details in the fish. The size of your brushes will depend on how large is your painting. If you are painting larger, you will want to go up a size or two on the brushes. If your painting is smaller, you will want to use brushes that are a size or two smaller.
Stamps and stencils for the background:
Not everything needs to be painted with a brush! Stamped and stenciled patterns can add an abstract element to any painting. Some of the things that Annie use are sink mats, netting, cling wrap, shelf liners, bath mats, etc.
Not a Member? Consider joining as an Associate Member $30/year
To register for this program you must be a member.
Join us here.
All registered participants will be sent the Zoom link before the demonstration.
Registered participants will have access to the video for 3 months.
BIOGRAPHY
Annie Strack
Annie Strack earned Signature Membership in 36 organizations including the International Society of Marine Painters and International Plein Air Painters, and she’s an Official Authorized Artist for the USCG. She exhibits internationally and has been featured in 24 solo shows. An experienced commercial artist, she’s created designs for countless businesses and produced architectural renderings for architects and contractors. She’s the author of The Artists Guide to Business & Marketing and was Contributing Editor and Columnist for Professional Artist Magazine for over a decade. Her DVD Painting Seascapes in Watercolor is broadcast on TV stations worldwide. She travels around the world to teach workshops, jury shows, & paint en plein air. She’s an artist materials expert and represents artist supply companies to present programs at schools, art centers, and art stores. Her artwork has received hundreds of awards and hangs in over 1,000 collections worldwide including USCG, Navy, Pentagon, Senate, and Veterans Administration
You can check her Facebook and Instagram pages below:
https://www.facebook.com/AnnieStrack
https://www.instagram.com/annie_strack
If you have any questions contact BWS Program Chair person, Yogini Dahiwadkar at yoginidahiwadkar@baltimorewatercolorsociety.org
