Welcome to “Y” is For Yellow!
(And no, we won’t paint everything yellow!)
In this class we will march through the alphabet as a fun way to move through our lessons (“P” is for Picasso! “C” is for Collage!), while tackling the more serious question,
“How do you create a body of work?”
As mixed-media artists we are always trying new media and experimenting with new techniques — which is awesome! But what can happen is we don’t take the time to focus long enough on the things we really love so that we can create a cohesive series that is uniquely ours.
I have found a lot of value working in series over the years; choosing and sticking with one media/subject matter for a period of time really has helped me… and I will share with you what I can about the process.
Are you ready to work hard in a fun environment? Let’s refine, focus, and create a body of work this year! As a shorter program, I think participants can decide to approach the class two ways:
1. Focus more on the series aspect of the class. Spend the six weeks going through the stages of researching & playing, resting, focusing & deciding, working (in tandem with a few others for support and accountability), and finishing!
2. Focus more on just playing in the studio with the drawing and mixed-media assignments. There are 26 drawing assignments and 10 mixed-media assignments… so much content! But you are invited to pick and choose the assignments that speak to you the most and leave the rest for self-study later.
Carla
NOTE: The video above refers to a PDF, which you can find HERE.
Supplies
Following is a very general supply list for the “Y is for Yellow” online class.
Hopefully you will already have many of the items already, or can easily subsitute with what you have on hand. (And links provided are just for clarification purposes; please don’t feel you need to purchase exactly what’s linked!)
In addition, the year is long… please don’t feel you need to gather everything before class begins!
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General Supply List for “Y is for Yellow”
Sketchbooks: You will need one large journal to take notes and/or do the drawing exercises. I will be using several Canson Mixed-Media Sketchbooks (sized 9″x12″ and 7″x10″); they are inexpensive and can take a beating. I also like to draw on card stock from an office supply store). In the end, just choose a size/brand that you like to work with!
Substrates: My favorite go-to paper is Fabriano Artistico hot-press 140# watercolor paper. You might need the equivalent of three-four 22″x30″ sheets for the year (excluding what you might need to do your series). You can also use cold-press paper (which is rougher), or any other paper you feel comfortable working with that can handle wet media, such as watercolor, acrylics and gel medium.
Paint: For watercolors, I use a small set of Pelikan watercolors, but any set — pan or tube — will work fine. For acrylics, I use Blickacrylics and some Golden paints.
White Gesso: I prefer Golden, as it’s a little thicker than many other brands.
Mediums: You will need a matte and a gloss medium (“regular” fluidity).
Brushes: My favorite watercolor brush is a #12 round (any brand). For acrylics, I like flat brushes in various sizes.
Pencils, Pens, Erasers: I like inexpensive mechanical pencils, ballpoint pens and Sharpies, Microns, black Tombows, soft vine charcoal, and water soluble markers (any brand, even inexpensive ones). We’ll also work with colored pencils (any brand). I mostly use a kneaded rubber eraser.
Also, we might use pastels (any kind) and crayons.
That’s it for now…
Here’s how this online class works:
- As a self-study class, so you have access to all of the lessons right now and can work the lessons on your own timetable.
- You have indefinite access to this class.
- You can (optionally) share your work with Carla via email or via the class Facebook page. Since this is now a self-study class, you will need to let Carla know if you upload work, as she doesn’t check the Facebook page as regularly.
- Class fee is good for participants living in a single household.
Questions?
Thank you so much for being here! We are here to help in any way:
TECHNICAL ISSUES: If you are having trouble loading our videos or experiencing other technical problems, please click HERE.
CLASS CONTENT: If you have questions about this class and would like to contact Carla directly at [email protected].
