Watercolor, Big and Bold with Deborah Rubin

Deborah Rubin: Bird of Paradise

Explore the medium using big brushes and bold saturated colors on full sheets and half sheets of paper. Learn how to loosen up those tight painting skills and create lush colorful paintings.

These sessions are designed for both beginners and those who want to acquire new techniques and skill. Subject matter will vary. The emphasis is on "learning by doing," so expect to jump in with paint immediately. The fee is $200 plus supply list below.

Learn more about Deborah on her website

To register, call the Center at (413) 584-7327 or email us. Please include your name, address, and telephone contact. Course fees are payable in advance by check to "NCFA" and can be mailed to the Northampton Center for the Arts, 17 New South Street, Northampton MA 01060. We do not accept credit cards.

WATERCOLOR SUPPLIES

Supplies needed are: Canson, Arches, or Fabriano 140lb watercolor paper, hot press and
rough. Paper should be cut from a 22 x 30 sheet to form 2 – 15 x 22 sheets. Please have 2 full sheets of each kind. If you can’t find rough, cold press will do. Also, bring a cheap watercolor spiral pad to be used as testing paper.

You will need to tape the paper to a board (masonite is good).

Watercolor tube paint only. Colors are: white, lamp black, cadmium yellow medium,
naples yellow, lemon yellow, raw umber, burnt sienna, cadmium red, alizarin crimson,
permanent rose, ultramarine blue, cerulean blue, pthalo blue, davy’s gray. If you want to
add greens, add sap and olive. Stay away from Grumbacher paints if possible…they tend
to gum up easily and cheap sets like Maries and Reeves. Recommended: Winsor Newton
Cotman, Van Gogh, Rembrandt.

A large John Pike or equivalent palette – wells for color and areas for mixing. You need a palette that will accommodate all the colors. Stay away from small round palettes…too small.

Good watercolor brushes. A synthetic/natural blend is good. All synthetics act like
sponges so stay away from them. Rounds # 2, 4, 7, 10, 20. Number 20s are very
expensive so you might want to forgo and get a #14 or #16. Flats 1 or 1 ½ inch. Stiff
bristle brush for scrubbing out and a Japanese hake brush at least 1 ½ - 2” wide. I have
plenty of extra brushes in case you come up short.


Liquid mask
2 cheap disposable brushes.
Plastic container for water (like kind that would have lb. of potato salad from deli)
Rubber cement pick-up
black fine marker (Micron pens are great)
regular school pencil
kneaded or white plastic eraser
rags and paper towels
Paper portfolio to hold unused paper and paintings.
Whatever holds your equipment is fine. Some people get fancy with plastic containers
with sections and a snap on lid. Others use a big bucket.

Also, a small desk/work lamp if you need extra light.

If this is all overwhelming, there are ways to cut back or perhaps share with another
student .
Local stores are Guild Art on Main St. in NOHO (10% discount), Valley Art Supplies on Cottage St. in Easthampton, and Michael’s in Hadley.
Art supply sources: Jerry’s Artarama, Dick Blick, Cheap Joes, Pearl Paint. These all have websites with online ordering, 1-800 phone numbers, and HUGE catalogs!