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Location:  Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919 
Dates: February 12 and 13th, 2019
Hours: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Cost:  Members: $230,  Non-Members: $290

Phone:  (239) 939-2787

The focus of this workshop is painting watercolor florals that glow, while abstracting the background and adding gold highlights for zing. Karen will demonstrate sunflowers, but students may choose whatever subject they wish.  Abstract backgrounds add excitement and interest.  Students will learn glazing, adding collage for texture, negative painting, and adding gold highlights to zip up their paintings.  Karen believes that painting should be fun and gives lots of individual help to her students, while also teaching design tips for outstanding paintings. 

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Supply List
  1. 1  full sheet Arches 140 lb. cold press paper.  We will divide this in class.  We will be working on paintings that are size 11” x 15”, so bring a foam core board or other support for attaching paper to.

  2. #2  Pencil, eraser 

  3. Sketch pad or notebook for taking notes. 

  4. Tracing paper 

  5. Graphite paper (Saral graphite colored brand is my favorite- available at Dick Blick art supply stores)

  6. Watercolor brushes (bring your favorites) I use 1” flat and ½ “flat, and a small (#6) round brush.  

  7. Water containers (old Cool Whip containers work great) bring 2. 

  8. Masking tape. 

  9. Ruler 

  10. Masking fluid (optional).  I use Pebeo brand, because of its fluidity and that it is grey in color.  (You can get it on the Cheap Joe’s website.)

  11. Kleenex brand tissues (because they pop up for easy grabbing) 

  12. Sponge or rag for wiping off your brushes. 

  13. Margarita salt or table salt 

  14. Spray bottle (I use a push button top, old Windex bottle.  You can usually get these at small convenience gas stations.)

  15. Blow dryer (optional) 

  16. Bring your palette filled with your usual colors.  Because everyone always asks, my palette is as follows.  I use mainly transparent colors.  (Please do not feel that you must go out and buy these colors.  The most important 5 colors are listed first.) Aureolin yellow, permanent rose (or DaVinci red rose deep), cobalt blue, winsor green, alizarin crimson, antwerp blue,  French ultramarine blue, manganese blue, cerulean blue, quinacridone gold, burnt sienna, permanent magenta, winsor red, neutral tint, and scarlet lake. 

  17. Camera (optional) If you want to take photos of my demonstration in progress, that’s OK with me. 

17.   Gauze (optional)

18.   Acrylic Matte Medium and old brush (for applying it) and a plastic container with lid (for storing it.)

19.   Collage papers-bring whatever you have.  (I will have kits for you to purchase, if you’d like.)  I like chiri paper (transparent), and unryu fiber paper, which is a milky white fiber paper with strings in it and it is semi-transparent.  Bring whatever other oriental papers you might already have.  Napkins and magazines can be used for collage, also, so start saving those.  My favorite magazine for collaging is Architectural Digest. (It also is very good for some design exercises that we will be doing.)  Try to think of variety in colors and textures. Any metallic ribbons, old books, music books, etc. Also, (old paintings that you don’t like) can be used in collage.

  1. Reference photos.  I will be painting sunflowers and magnolias.  You may paint whatever flower you wish. 

  2. One package of colorful paper napkins.  (any papers that have busy patterns and bright colors -for instance, swirls or dots, or checks.) They make great collage material.  We’ll have a napkin exchange.

  3. (Optional)  Bring any rubber stamps that you already own.  We will be making our own stamps, using mat board.

  4. Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (gold) and a color box pigment stamp pad (gold).  (available at Michaels Art Supply Store)  I will also have a hot air gun that will be used in this procedure. Please bring yours if you already own these. 

  5. Bring whatever acrylic metallic paints that you have.  My favorite is Lumiere metallic acrylic paints.  I use both copper and gold.  (available at Dick Blick)

  6. Pebeo porcelain outliner tubes.  My favorite color is gold.  (This is gold paint that is raised when applied.  It usually is for painting on glass.  These are available through Cheap Joes Art supply catalog or at Micheals Art Supply Store.) 

  7. Gold reactive foil (12” rolls available at Hobby Lobby)  I use this instead of gold leaf.  It’s easier.  :)

  8. Double stick tape that is available in the craft section of Michaels.  I use a big one that is used for framing purposes, but a small one will work just fine.  

If you have questions about the supplies, my email is:  karen@karenknutson.com  I will be bringing extra gold items, so if you have trouble finding them, I would be glad to share mine for a small fee. 

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