"Desert Hills"

Although perceived to be a difficult medium, watercolors’ unique working characteristics and unique working process are easily learned.   Whether you are a beginning watercolor painter, or have worked with the medium for some time but still find the medium difficult, this class is for you. The weekend long class will teach the techniques required for successful watercolor painting.  Over the course of the two days, the mysteries will be unlocked as we cover the five fundamental elements of successful watercolor painting :

- the “secret” to create glowing, transparent washes

- effective color mixing

- tonal value and the color/value relationships

- how to plan your painting

- basic composition

These skills can be learned and, with practice, mastered.

Class begins with the basic washes, how to create them and how they are best used in a painting. We move on to color and color mixing starting with six common colors. From there we mix six more along with several beautiful neutral grays. We’ll work on building tonal values and planning the value structure of your painting with basic composition.  At the end of the two days, everyone will have the knowledge needed to create beautiful watercolor paintings.

For beginners and for those who are trying to get a handle on this beautiful medium,  I recommend a basic set of watercolor painting for this class.  A list of suggested materials follows this class description.  Use it as a guide in purchasing materials for class or for yourself.  As an option, I can provided a set of  Basic Watercolor materials which includes everything you need to get started in painting watercolor – paint, palette, brushes and paper. The total cost of the Basic Watercolor Materials set is $85.

The class meets at the Taraden Bed & Breakfast Media Barn, 183 Park Street, North Bennington, VT.  Fee – $150 for the weekend long class .  Accommodations not included in the cost of the class.  Contact Bob or Nan at the Taraden Bed & Breakfast for room availability and rates – email :  reservations@taraden.com or by phone : 802 447-3434.

Fee – $150 for the weekend long class. Download an upcoming class schedule, a registration form,  and the suggested materials list from the links below.

Contact me if you have any questions about this or any other class.  Email me at mail@tonyconner.com or by phone – 802 375 5548

Watercolor Simplified – Beginners Weekend Class Info

2010 Class Schedule

2010 Class Registration Form

Suggested Materials

I enjoy welcoming visitors to my Studio Gallery.  It is open by appointment – please contact me to arrange a visit – email:mail@tonyconner.com or phone:802 375 5548

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Park McCullogh View

I have three Plein Air Painting workshops scheduled in the upcoming months – Saturday & Sunday, July 10 & 11, Saturday & Sunday, September 25 & 26, Saturday & Sunday, October 16 & 17 – all three meet from 10am to 4pm each day.

Plein Air painting developed in the late 18th century and was popularized by artists such as John Constable &  Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot in the early 19th century.  Most artists painting en plein air in that day were driven to depict nature in true fidelity and through observable fact. The plein air movement continued into the late 19th century and was carried on by the Impressionists of that time.

Enjoy the unique experience of painting “en plein air” and learn the skills and techniques needed to quickly capture light effects and to make plein air paintings successful. Each class begins with a short instructor demo focusing on the key skills of selecting and simplifying the subject, composing the painting, and mixing and applying the right colors. For the rest of the day, the class works on their own paintings with help and guidance from the instructor. Indoor studio space is available in case of bad weather.

Class meets on the grounds of the Taraden Bed & Breakfast,  and will paint in various locations in around the quintessential Vermont community of North Bennington. Class fee – $150 for each weekend long class.

2010 Class Schedule 2010 Class Registration Form Plein Air Painting Supplies & Equipment Plein Air Painting Tips

Suggested Materials

Contact me if you have an interest in this or any other paintings on the site. Email me at tc@tonyconner.com or by phone at 802-375-5548.

Sign up form for my email list for News, Events, Exhibits & Classes

Creating Watercolor Paintings From Photos. Tuesdays, May 4 – May 25, 6:00 – 8:30pm.

"Golden Afternoon"

Digital cameras make it easy to catch interesting scenes, fleeting light effects and snapshots of paintable scenes that you don’t have the time to paint. Simple design principles will help in turning reference photos into terrific watercolor paintings In this class, learn how to crop the scene, move the elements and make color choices that turn photos into great watercolor compositions.

Class participants will work from their own photos, with guidance and instruction from the instructor.

Offered through the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center on Park Street in Bennington, Vermont.

CDC Winter/Spring Class Registration Form
CDC Winter/Spring Class Schedule

Contact me if you have an interest in this or any other paintings on the site. Email me at tc@tonyconner.com or by phone at 802-375-5548.

Sign up form for my email list for News, Events, Exhibits & Classes

"Golden Afternoon"

Creating Watercolor Paintings From Photos.  Tuesdays, May 4 – May 25, 6:00 – 8:30pm.

Digital cameras make it easy to catch interesting scenes, fleeting light effects and snapshots of paintable scenes that you don’t have the time to paint.   Simple design principles will help in turning reference photos into terrific watercolor paintings In this class, learn how to crop the scene, move the elements and make color choices that turn photos into great watercolor compositions.

Class participants will work from their own photos, with guidance and instruction from the instructor.

Offered through the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center on Park Street in Bennington, Vermont.

For more information call the CDC office at 802-447-0220; Download a class catalog at http://www.svcdc.org/adult-education/adult-ed-printable-catalog.pdf ; Download a class registration form at http://www.svcdc.org/adult-education/adult-ed-registration-form-evening.pdf -Class fee $85

"Desert Hills"

Watercolor- Beyond the Basics, Tuesdays, March 16– April 6, 6:00 – 8:30pm.

A follow-on to the Basic Watercolor class, this popular class will continue to help unravel the mysterious ways of the watercolor medium.  With a focus on the fundamentals, participants learn the basic skills needed to successfully paint with watercolor.  The class is designed for the rank beginner, for those who struggle to make their watercolors look “right”, and for those who might be picking up the watercolor brush after a long time away.  At whatever skill level, the class is sure to be educational and fun.

This class is held at the Southwest Vermont Career Development Center, 321 Park Street, Bennington VT 05201

Class fee $85. Sets of Basic watercolor materials are available if needed for an additional and optional fee of $60.00

CDC Winter/Spring Class Registration Form
CDC Winter/Spring Class Schedule

Winter Watercolor Warmup
Saturday & Sunday, February 6 & 7, 2010 – 10am to 4pm

This studio class is the perfect way to warm up your watercolor skills.  This two-day workshop will be held in the Classroom space of the Taraden Bed & Breakfast Media Barn, North Bennington, VT.

We’ll begin each day will begin with an instructor demonstration focused on the fundamental techniques required to create a successful watercolor painting and will end with a relaxed review of the day’s work.  In between, each class participant will be able to work on a still life set up in the studio or from their own reference sketches and/or photos.

The instructor will provide tips and demonstrations on some of the most fundamental techniques required to create successful watercolor paintings including; value relationships, glazing, wet-on-wet and other wash methods, palette selection, value and color composition, light, highlight, shade and shadow, color theory and color schemes.

The workshop is open to participants at all levels of experience and ability.   It is recommended that participants have abilities in basic drawing and the fundamentals of watercolor painting and technique.

Saturday & Sunday, February 6 & 7, 2010 – 10:oo am – 4:00 pm
Class will be held at Taraden Bed & Breakfast, Media Barn Classroom, North Bennington, VT  Cost per Session – $150

Limited space – registration on first come, first serve basis.

Download class information flyer and registration form here.