About the Instructor — Sue Downes Allen:
Sue Downes Allen’s work is founded in traditional watercolor, but in recent years she has explored the boundaries of all water media and its alluring spontaneity. The result of this experimental approach is often abstract and uniquely original.
Sue received her BFA at University of Utah in 1980 and has been painting and teaching the nature of water media ever since. She is a consistent award winner and was proud to be awarded signature status in the National Watercolor Society in 2011. In 2013 Sue had a painting included in the American Watercolor Society 146th International Exhibition. Sue was featured in Watercolor Magic Magazine, December 2005.
Sue Downes Allen is a signature member and past President of Florida Watercolor Society, a member and past President of Brandon League of Fine Arts and she served as a professional advisor to the Hillsborough County Florida Art For Public Places committee. She has lived and exhibited her work in Europe and many states including Alaska and now lives and works in Lithia, Florida, near Tampa.
Website: www.sueallenart.com
About the Workshop:
From Sue: “Students will pour, splatter and run watercolor paint, until a totally original image emerges.
I think you will find any water media experience you have had will help you quickly masterthese techniques. Emphasis will be on design and composition, color and contrast but bring your adventurous self, the one who loves to experiment and play with paint. That said, Sue will demonstrate each step in her process and help students solve problems as they happen.
You will be making your own original design, using references if you like, working wet in wet on paper or cancas, in an intuitive manner, then adding other water media and other creative choices to enhance your artwork.
You may paint any subject you like, including abstract. I will demonstrate the benefits of using these same techniques on prepared canvas for those who want to give that a try. Students will be encouraged to experiment with all water media and to add any elements you like, to make it your own.”
Cost
$50 for TRA Members, $65 for Non-Members, if paid by cash or check. If paid online, a convenience change has been added to the price. If you are paying by cash or check, please mail your check to TRA and email Judy Milsaps.
Supply List:
Here are the basic supplies we will be using:
1 sheet 140# or better watercolor paper or 1 commercially prepared canvas,any size larger than 11x14 and18x24 max, for those who will try fluid acrylic on canvas.
(a canvas that is hand prepared using gesso will not work since the large amount of water we will use may cause the gesso to separate from the canvas)
2 sheets of white tissue paper
Matte Medium for collage
Paint: Bring any Watercolor paints you love and
Fluid acrylics in primary colors and black, if you are going to try working on canvas
(you can use watercolors to mix with the acrylics to get any colors you want)
My basic palette is:
Quinacridone Gold Phthalo Blue Burnt Sienna Cerulean Blue
Quinacridone Red Cadmium yellow Paynes Gray
Please bring Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Artists Ink-White or white gouache and a few FW Pearlescent colors-liquid acrylic inks (1 oz) I love Sun-up Blue and Silver Pearl.
Brushes: Should all be sable or synthetic, soft and able to hold lots of water.
You may want to bring separate older brushes to use with acrylic as the acrylic can change the ability of a brush to hold watercolor for future work.
A large flat-1 1/2" or 2” #10 or #14 round
3/4" flat and a 1/2" flat #6 or #8 round
an old toothbrush #2 or 4 round for detail
Watercolor palette
palette paper for mixing acrylic
two containers for water, saran wrap, a rubber brayer 1 1/2 or 2 inches wide,
a sponge, paper towels, masking tape and a spray bottle for water.
A plastic tablecloth or drop cloth, a large kitchen trash bag, an apron and gloves
You may bring reference photos if you would like to incorporate them into your painting and any additional materials you like to use; for example, stencils, stamps,inks, pencils, graphite, gel medium for collage papers and tissue we will paint. Its up to you.Looking forward to the fun!
