Learning From a Master: Painting Like Beatrix Potter

Studying the works of the "great masters" is a time honored learning tool in the art world. Potter, although best known for her "little books" of fanciful animal adventures, was a highly accomplished nature artist and science illustrator. She was also a savvy business woman who bucked the strictures of her time, and is largely responsible for the preservation of the Lake District in the United Kingdom through her land conservation efforts. In this workshop, participants will learn about Beatrix Potter’s life, techniques, subject matter and try their hands at emulating her work. Materials employed will be the same media Potter used: graphite, pen and ink and watercolor.

Nora Sherwood has a professional certificate in natural science illustration from the University of Washington and is a working artist on the Oregon coast. Her science illustration work is guided by Baba Dioum's famous quote, "In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we have been taught." In addition to commissioned work for museums, interpretive signage, commercial products and scientific journals, Nora shows work in galleries around the Pacific Northwest and teaches workshops.

Drawing pencils. My favorites are the Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils, which you can buy in a 12 pack; gives you a very good range of pencils.

Erasers. I work with both a kneaded eraser and a plastic (hi-polymer) eraser, and I love my Tombow Mono Zero eraser.

Drawing paper. I'm going to bring some nice bristol board paper for you to use, but you will need some drawing paper of your own for sketches.

Basic watercolor set. I use only professional grade tube paints from brands like Daniel Smith and Winsor&Newton, but don't feel you have to buy a lot of new watercolors for this class. I can also share some dabs of paint.

Brushes. I use synthetic round brushes like the Da Vinci Cosmotop Spin series, in sizes ranging from 5 to 1.

Palette. I am a fan of the butcher tray style of palette.

Buckets. I like to use two water containers, one for clean water, and one for rinsing my brush.

Dropper or pipette. Very handy for moving water and paint around.

Watercolor paper. I'm going to bring a supply of good Arches 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper to share, but if you prefer a different paper please feel free to bring it.

Sakura Pigma Micron pen or two.

If you prefer colored pencils to watercolor, please feel free to bring them. Beatrix would not have used them, but would not have objected to you using the medium you prefer!

Watercolor paper (Arches 300# hot press)

Bristol board drawing paper (vellum and smooth)