Watercolour for Beginners | James McKay

About the workshop

Designed for the absolute beginner, this two-day workshop will introduce you will be doing some exercises to familiarise ourselves with wet into wet techniques and brushwork. You will play with colour to understand colour and colour mixing and the effects on colour and light. Most of the exercises will be centred around producing small landscape paintings and you will also produce some larger landscape/seascape paintings. James likes to teach using mostly small quick paintings so that a painting that is not working can be restarted or you can move on to a new one. He is also very hands on demonstrating in small steps with plenty of explanation and discussion along the way.

Who is this workshop suitable for?

This workshop is suited to those who have had little or no experience with watercolour and or would like a good grounding and understanding of the basics. This workshop is mainly centred around landscape paintings.

What do I need to bring?

Use of all painting materials will be available.

Please bring your lunch and snacks or you can purchase from cafes close by.

What is provided?

• Tea and coffee (please bring your own cup)
• A friendly, supportive and encouraging learning environment
• Connection to the Bienarté art community

About the Tutor

James was born and spent most of his life on a farm in Africa where he started to paint scenes from the farm and African life. Some 20 years ago he moved to make Australia his home, and fell in love with the Australian landscape, particularly old farms, the warm soft colours and the light. This inspired him to paint more seriously.

He has been painting in watercolour for over 25 years and has been exhibiting in galleries throughout Australia and Southern Africa for the 10 years. He has won a number of awards in and around South East Queensland and has also been teaching and holding workshops for a number of years.

There is something about the Australia rural landscape that he finds particularly captivating – “I find the play of light on old fences, gum trees, old sheds and livestock quite irresistible”.

He paints loosely in watercolour using wet into wet techniques “the faster I work, the more feeling the painting has”. He does a lot of his work on site and is passionate about painting in the great outdoors.

He loves to share his joy of painting with others and has always started and run painting groups wherever he has spent any time.