Intimate Mushroom Portraits in Watercolor

The translucent nature of the surface of a mushroom makes it the perfect candidate for illustrating in watercolor. Mushrooms make great subject matter for learning about the power of watercolors! The focus will be on pushing your watercolor skills to create sensitive mushroom portraits that glow. In addition, you'll gain knowledge about watercolors specifically, and color theory in general, that can be applied to your other watercolor projects.

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.

ESSENTIAL:

• Pencil set for graphite studies (whatever pencils you like to use for sketching - I typically have 3 pencils on hand when I'm sketching - F, 2B and 4B is a useful set).

• Eraser, pencil sharpener, tortillion and/or stump if you like using them

• Clear plastic ruler

• Tracing paper if you like to use it for transferring sketches

• A sketch pad for sketches and rough drafts

• Watercolors - if you already have a set that you like, please bring it. If you don't have watercolors or your set needs some updating, these are some colors I use a lot. These are just suggestions - please don't feel obligated to buy these! (We won't use a lot of paint in the class, and I'd be happy to share a dab of mine if you'd like to try one.)

Phthalo blue

Cadmium red

Alizarin crimson

Quinacridone gold

New gamboge

Hansa yellow

Sap green

Ram umber

Burnt umber

Raw sienna

Burnt sienna

Neutral tint(Note on watercolors - I've found it really benefits me to pay the extra for the good quality, professional paints, and I only use tube paints.)

• Brushes - other than a 1 1/2 inch wash brush, I exclusively use round brushes, ranging in size from 4 to 00. Everybody has their favorite type of brush, and I really like Rosemary & Co. Snowdrops and Da Vinci Cosmotop spins... I love them and a bonus is that they're both vegan! Bring what you have, and buy a few new ones if yours are old and crusty…Other watercolor materials - palette, water jars (I use two), paper towels, and anything else you need.

• 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper to share

• My favorite tracing paper to share

• My favorite drawing paper to share

• Some specimens