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BEFORE THE COURSE STARTS
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Instructor: Bobbi H. Dubins E-mail: art@dubins.com |
ONCE THE COURSE IS STARTED
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NEW! Instructional CD/DVD used in my online classes are also available separately -click here for details or to see a sample lesson.
Designed for those who have no or little experience in watercolor, this course will focus on getting comfortable with watercolor painting techniques and enjoying the process of painting. The basics of materials, tools, techniques, color, value and “seeing” your subject will be explored. The class is designed to be fun and inspirational and will focus on how to relax and enjoy the process of painting.
Students will have ample opportunity to discuss their work and to get to know other students in the class. Students will be encouraged (but not required) to submit their assignments (paintings) to the class discussion board to receive feedback and encouragement. Students are also encouraged to participate in discussions in the discussion board.
Lessons consist of video instruction, PowerPoint presentations with audio voiceover, step-by-step articles (with accompanying photographs) and interaction with the instructor by use of the discussion board. The video clips are provided on DVD and/or online. To view a sample lesson, click here.
After each lesson, you will be asked to try a painting exercise. You are encouraged (but not required) to submit your completed assignments (scanned or digitally photographed images of your paintings) to the class discussion board, or to me privately.
Each week you will also be encouraged to participate in class discussions by posting comments, reflections, or questions on the discussion board. This gets conversation going between students and is a great way to get inspiration and encouragement from fellow students. I will also participate in the discussions, answering questions and helping you explore.
The course will cover:
Supplies and materials (papers, paints, and brushes)
Watercolor paint handling techniques
Color mixing theory
Value concepts
Painting demonstrations - Techniques, landscape, flower painting, other topics of interest to students
| Week 1 –
Introduction and Basic Painting Techniques
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1. Blackboard introduction 2. Course introduction 3. VIDEO LESSON: SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS View the first portion of the "Watercolor Basics for Beginners - Starting from Scratch" video. The first portion discusses supplies and materials (paints, papers, and brushes).
4. VIDEO
LESSON: BASIC PAINT HANDLING TECHNIQUES
5. ASSIGNMENT – try each technique
6) ASSIGNMENT -
Post to the discussion board. |
| Week 2 – Basic Painting Techniques - Application |
1. "The Beauty of Watercolor" 2. VIDEO LESSON - view the second part of the video "Your First Full Painting". - Still Life
3. ASSIGNMENT – Paint a still life using the
supplied photograph or one of your own choosing
4. ASSIGNMENT - Post to the discussion board (optional) |
| Week 3 – Color mixing theory |
1. VIDEO LESSON - Color Mixing Theory
a. Three dimensions of color
(hue, value and intensity) 2. HANDS ON ASSIGNMENT - 3. VIDEO LESSON - Wet-on-wet flower
background 4.
ASSIGNMENT - Paint a wet-on-wet flower painting using |
| Week 4 – Techniques and color application |
1. Re-visit the concept of controlling water in your paintings 2. Introduction to washes 3. STEP-BY-STEP instructions - How to paint a landscape. Two examples. 4. Introduction to Wetcanvas.com and it's article index. 5. VIDEO LESSON 6. Choose an article and paint a painting following the instructions. 7. ASSIGNMENT - Post to the discussion board (optional)
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| Week 5 - Try Your Own Project |
1. Using a photograph of your own
choice, work on a project of your choice. 2. Topic of students choosing. The students in the class choose the topic for the last week of class. |
Computer skills - You should already know how to:
1. Use browser software (Netscape or Internet Explorer)
2. Send and receive email (including attaching files)
3. Save and find files on your hard drive
4. Optional-this is required only if you wish to submit your painting assignments to the instructor for feedback: You should know how to create an electronic version of your paintings (i.e., scan the painting, take a digital photograph of your painting, scan a photograph of your painting, or go to a photo store and have them scan it for you).
Computer requirements for the course:
You must have:
1. Access to a Pentium class computer with a high speed Internet connection.
2. Your own email address (If you do not have an email address, you may sign up for free email service at www.hotmail.com)
3. Internet Explorer (version 5.0 or higher) or Netscape Navigator (version 4.77 or higher)
4. A DVD player. (Lectures will be provided either on DVD or over the Internet.)
5. You should also have access to a digital camera or a scanner (optional). You will be asked to complete painting exercises each week and submit the assignment to the instructor (optional). This will be done by converting your painting into a digital form (either by taking a digital photograph of it, scanning it, or having someone else scan it for you.). You should know how to do this prior to the first day of class.
· We will be discussing supplies in detail the first week of class. If you already have watercolor supplies, there is no need to purchase additional supplies. We can work with whatever you already have.
· If you don’t already have supplies, you should purchase supplies in time to have them sometime in the first week of class. A recommended supply list is located at www.dubins.com/supplylist.htm.
This course will be conducted using Blackboard software. You do not need to purchase software to use Blackboard, however, you will need a login and password to access it. I will provide you with this login and password by email prior to the first “day” of class.
art@dubins.com
Once the course has started:
I receive a lot of email. When sending me email, please put “Watercolor Class” in the subject line of your email so I don’t accidentally overlook it. If your question requires a lengthy explanation/response from me, I will respond within 24-48 hours. If your e-mail is a quick question or comment, I will respond as soon as I read it.
Questions that are of interest to other members of the class should be posted on the discussion board and I will answer them there. This helps make the class more interactive.
Students are encouraged to submit assignments for feedback and encouragement. Painting assignments should be scanned or digitally photographed and submitted by Blackboard. Files should be of the type .jpg or .bmp and 72 bpi.
Students may submit their assignments one of two ways:
1 – Submit it to the discussion board: This method makes the assignment available for all of the students in the class to view. I encourage students to submit their assignments this way, as it is a wonderful learning experience for everyone in the class, however…
2- You may submit your assignment to me privately, using the “Digital Drop Box” if you don’t feel comfortable posting your assignment in front of the whole class.
If you choose to submit your assignment to the discussion board, I will provide feedback to you in the discussion board. (Reminder: Anything in the discussion board can be read by all students.). All of my feedback will be considerate and encouraging. We will be spending a lot of time focusing on what is right about your work.
Participating in the Discussion Board
Students are encouraged to communicate with each other at any time using the discussion board. Just because you cannot physically be in the same room as your classmates doesn’t mean you can’t communicate with them! The discussion board can be a valuable source of information and encouragement. However, please note that all messages are “public”, i.e. available for everyone in the class to view. When posting messages on the discussion board please keep all comments on a positive note. As in all areas of my course…negativity is not allowed. This means you cannot be negative about your own work either, so remember to focus on what you like about your work, as opposed to what you don’t like.
Important: If a fellow student posts a painting to the discussion board, please provide positive feedback and encouragement. Only offer suggestions if the student specifically asks for it. This does two things, 1-helps other students by providing encouragement, and 2-helps you to stay in a positive frame of mind, which will enhance your enjoyment of the class and your creativity.
If you post a painting to the discussion board and would like suggestions from the other students, be specific about the problem you are having or what you would like suggestions on. Instead of saying “I don’t like this painting, what should I do” say “The barn in the background doesn’t look right to me, can anyone identify what the problem is?”
If you have a question or problem please check the weekly discussion board first. If the answer is not there, post your question and I will respond to it there. (I will check the discussion board at least 4 times a week, usually daily). That way, everyone in the class will benefit from the information. If you have a question, chances are someone else has the same question, so don’t be shy!
If you have a question of a personal nature, please contact me by email at art@dubins.com. I normally check my email daily.
Contacting me
You may contact me by email at art@dubins.com.