This MAS Workshop will be on Tuesday 9th April, 2024 on the subject of Portraying Plants in Watercolour, with Ann Thomas as tutor. It will be held at Llanelltyd Village Hall from 10.30.am to 4.00 pm. The cost will be £10.00 for members and £20 for non-members. This workshop will limited to 10 on a first come first served basis.
The workshop will explore the possibilities of watercolour paint using light washes by studying a plant such as a wild or garden flower. Ann will explain how she uses light washes of colour, water soluble coloured pencils and dry brush techniques to enhance pencil drawings. She will share her method of work by bringing examples of completed artwork based on field and studio sketches. By the end of the session, artists will have drawn on watercolour or cartridge paper and have the opportunity to control watercolour washes, rather than being controlled by it!.
Ann will give an illustrated talk describing her trials and tribulations whilst using her sketchbook studies of nature to write and illustrate her book ‘Wild Wonderful Plants’ for the Norwegian Archipelago of Vega.
Material list.
- Paper for sketching – a few sheets
- Tracing paper
- Kitchen roll, absorbent paper to mop up
- Pencil – HB, 2B and an eraser
- A drawing board to support drawing/ painting paper
- A book or similar as a prop to angle the drawing board
- Masking tape to secure paper to board or bull dog clip
- Jam jar or container to hold water
- Container with narrow neck to hold plant stem for drawing
- Your usual watercolour paints
- Water soluble coloured pencils (if you have any but not necessary)
- Heavyweight white Cartridge paper A3 190gsm or 200gsm and/or your usual watercolour paper (140 gsm or heavier, smooth surface, white or cream)
- Watercolour palette and/or ice cube tray
- Watercolour brushes – at least four good brushes –small to medium (1 – 4/5)
The following list of Windsor and Newton professional paints are used by the tutor and will be available on the day.
- Transparent Yellow
- Cadmium Scarlet
- Quinacridone Magenta
- Ultramarine Blue
- Winsor Blue
- Winsor Green
Ann will bring the above list of paints, tracing paper, cartridge and watercolour paper all available for a small contributory fee and also plants to draw. Artists are welcome to bring their own source material to study – flowers with simple rather than complex structures recommended eg tulip.
About Ann Thomas
The natural world and sketching in the field has always been the source of inspiration for Ann’s artwork. A two year visit to New York State (1987-89) USA provided an opportunity to join graduate art classes in Union College, Schenectady. She was encouaged to use her field sketches and watercolour drawings as the source of inspiration for prints. She has been a member of the Meirionnydd Artists for many years, exhibiting work with them and also with the North Wales Society of Botanical and Fine Watercolour Artists. In 2005 and 2014, she exhibited her work in Norway on the Vega Archipelago and taught a mixed media adult art course on the main island in 2010. She illustrated and wrote a book on Vega wild flowers for their new World Heritage Centre in 2019.
Ann was born in Dolgellau and graduated from Aberystwyth University with a degree in Zoology in 1974. She became a Biology and Science Secondary School teacher in England and Wales for a few years before being appointed to a full time lecturing post in Plas Tan y Bwlch Residential Centre (1990 – 2010), continuing part time until 2018.
Meirionnydd Artists Society 