In the very comfortable and accessible Cottage Hobby House in Anacortes,WA we will spend one day, every two weeks, investigating some of the most important teachings of some of the giants of watercolor in the 20th century - Rex Brandt, Millard Sheets,  Christopher Schink, Don Andrews. These are people with whom I studied and who greatly influenced my own development as an artist.  Their teachings have been passed on over the years to my students -- but always with my own spin to the material. 
                   

               Sheets talking to the class                      Brandt thinking about a paining

In this course, we return to look at the teacher himself, who he was and what was important to him.  I have culled pages of notes which will be shared in handouts. Each day we will try one of the most important lessons that help to define this individual and that should have a lasting impact on one's art.

   

page from a class with Rex Brandt                         page from a class with C. Schink

linking shapes with value and color, and designing negative or unimportant shapes to complement the main shapes in the painting.

When we meet again, we will return to the previous compositions to explore the use of different pigments to enrich and create visual excitement as the paintings are completed.

The final session will be devoted to "pulling it all together" which, by this time in the class, will be as individual as each student's work.

Brandt making a grand gesture,

Shades of a Hard Days Work, Caroline Buchanan

from a tulip fieldworkers' porch -- a reminder that this is the time the tulip fields will be blooming

see alternate driving directions below; not 5 miles from where I studied with Rex Brandt in September, 1978.

Location:

The class will be held at the Cottage Hobby House, on the NE corner of 12th and M in Anacortes. The space is airy and light, spacious but not too large. The class is limited to 12, which fit comfortably. 

Directions

From I -5: Take I-5 to exit 230, highway 20. Follow signs to the ferry. When you turn off Commercial in downtown Anacortes you are turning onto 12th. The next light is M. Turn right. The house is the first one on your right and is yellow, 1220 12 St. Please use alley access and enter at the back door of the building. Five to seven cars will be able to park behind the building, additional parking is on "M" street, however please avoid parking directly across the street at the corner house (NW corner)..

Alternate directions: turn at the 221 exit, Conway, cross the freeway and may a left between the two service stations, continue on this road across Fir Island, and on across Pleasant Ridge, past La Conner turn off and pick your way through the tulip fields, going either north or west until you reach highway #20.  Turn left and continue to Anacortes. 

Anacortes Area Lodging:

See LINK at the bottom of the page and scroll down to Anacortes Area:

Islands Inn 3401 Commercial Ave. Phone: 360-293-4644;

Ship Harbor Inn 1-800-852-8568; E-mail A lovely view of the water and the ferries. Close to class.

There are many more places to choose. Click Anacortes, WA for a map and more information. (http://www.anacortes.org/)