In “Experimental Landscapes with Granulating Watercolours” we use experimental techniques to paint landscapes. This half day workshop focuses on taming, but not totally controlling, granulating watercolours to generate imaginary landscapes. The correct watercolour paints are essential for this technique to work, so the workshop cost includes a fee to cover provided materials.

We will be working small – it is easier to get interesting effects on a small scale. Working small also reduces wastage – after all experimental techniques don’t always work out. The techniques used require a lot of water – working small means we can use a fairly lightweight paper which dries faster.

We start the workshop using experimental techniques to generate a sky and basic landforms. It is necessary to have a fairly open mind about exactly what the resulting image is going to be as the watercolour behaviour will not be completely predictable, and may suggest ideas. The image is then worked up (if desired) by adjusting and adding details to make a convincing, and hopefully exciting, painting.

This is not a workshop on traditional watercolour technique. Because we are giving the paint degree of freedom to “do its own thing” and responding to the results, you may want to reintroduce lighter areas – possibly using collage and/or acrylics.