Watercolor: Philly Sites
Adult Class | Available
Painting in a landscape setting can be challenging but the medium of watercolor is particularly well suited for the effort. Through a series of planned exercises, we will endeavor to build a set of appropriate skills. The class will meet at a variety of interesting sites in the Philadelphia area. The emphasis of the class will be on learning to observe, planning your work with intention and developing a facility for preparing and applying watercolor paints. The learning methodology will emphasize progress through instruction and practice exercises, self and group evaluation and sharing experiences.
This class will meet at various sites across the city*, including:
- Philadelphia Waterworks
- Navy Yard
- Race Street Pier
- Laurel Hill East Cemetery
- FDR Park
- Old Swedes Church
*The first session of the class will meet at Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St.
What You Will Learn:- Observe the subject- Set goals and plan your work - Develop techniques specific to watercolor painting - Evaluate your work critically
Who This Class Is For:
Beginners and all levels welcome; some prior watercolor experience is helpful. Questions about whether this class is right for you? Email adulteducation@fleisher.org.
- This is an in-person, off site course that will take place in various locations throughout the Philadelphia region. Students will need to provide their own transportation to the meeting sites. The instructor will communicate the locations for each meeting with students via email before the start of the workshop.
- - Drawing pencils and eraser
- Notebook or sketchbook with watercolor paper
- Watercolor paper in block form (preferred), minimum 140# or thicker
- Watercolor paints in tubes or pans (with replaceable cakes)
- Palette tray for mixing paint
- Paint brushes suitable for watercolor (flat 1”, flat ½”, rounds and others)
Bill Becker
Bill Becker is a retired architect. About 35 years ago he took up watercolor painting to find more direct means of artistic expression outside the constraints of his typically client-oriented design practice. Self-taught, at first, he came to realize that progress came more quickly through exposure to good classes and teachers. Over the years he has studied at Fleisher and PAFA and been exposed to numerous different instructors and methodologies.
Through his own struggles with learning watercolor painting he has become aware of the need for a watercolor course that helps build fundamental skills and confidence and has designed his “boot camp” class. Building on the principles of that course, he now offers other classes for intermediate and more experienced watercolorists interested in improving their technique while painting landscape and Philadelphia specific subjects.