Location: Saturday July 23

On Saturday's class, we will meet in the Tiergarten for plein-air painting!  Meet directly across the street from the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, near the bus stop.  If you can't find us or if you are late, text me and I will send location!

Here are some photos to make the meeting spot more clear.

MAP: http://goo.gl/maps/qx7l

the red dot is the meeting point!

this bus stop is at the meeting point

this is the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, across the street from the meeting point

Watercolor Artists: approaches

To get some ideas on how to start a watercolor painting, we looked at art history. What strategies have watercolor artists used in the past? 

Some artists started with a drawing, and stuck to this drawing as an outline. Other artists started with color and brushstrokes. 

We broke this down into two main strategies: the drawing approach and the painterly approach.  Look through these images and see if you can identify the approach!

Milton Avery (1885 - 1965)

Milton Avery (1885 - 1965)

Arthur Dove (1880 - 1946) 

Arthur Dove

Charles Burchfield (1893 - 1967)

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

Paul Cezanne (1839 - 1906)

Emil Nolde (1867 - 1956)

Emil Nolde (1867 - 1956)

Maurice Prendergast (1858 - 1924)

Maurice Prendergast (1858 - 1924)

John Singer Sargent (1856 - 1925)

John Singer Sargent (1856 - 1925)

Egon Schiele

Georgia O'Keeffe (1887 -1986)

Watercolor Workshop Supply List

I am really looking forward to the start of the Watercolor Workshop! Let's hope for good weather every Saturday when we paint in the field! 

To get started with watercolor, the most important single thing is the brush! 

Round Sable Watercolor Brush

This sable brush will be an investment, because unlike an oil painting brush, it will last many many years, as long as you only use it with watercolors.

It is also important that you get paper labelled for use with watercolor (Aquarell, Wasserfarbe). Watercolor paper has a high percentage of cotton fibers, best suited to absorb the liquid.

With the paints, you pretty much get what you pay for, in terms of amount of pigment contained within the paint. Therefore I would recommend, when possible, to buy smaller quantities of a higher quality paint if the price is similar to larger quantities of "student grade" paint.

I have included some examples from Boesner of what I consider to be reasonably priced paper and brushes. This is because it is also possible to spend 4x as much, but it is not necessary for this class!

Supply List

Brushes
- Round Brush size 8 (Sable if possible, or synthetic sable)
- Flat Wash Brush 1-2 cm wide (does not need to be sable, can be any type)

Reasonably priced round sable brushes at Boesner

Reasonably priced round synthetic sable brushes at Boesner

Reasonably priced synthetic sable brushes at Boesner

Paper
- Watercolor block A4 or larger (must be 300 g)
- Cold-press

Reasonable priced watercolor blocks at Boesner
left: 30x40 cm costs 14.75 euro, right: 24x30 cm costs 11.78 euro

Paint
Watercolor paints in box (Aquarell Malkasten). 

PRIMARIES COOL COLORS WARM COLORS BLUE Cerulean Blue (or Pthalo Blue) French Ultramarine Blue RED Alizarin Crimson Cadmium Red YELLOW Lemon Yellow (Cad.Yellow Pale) Cadmium Yellow

Additional Colors: Payne's Grey, Burnt Sienna

Aquarell Malkasten

Additional Optional Colors: Violet, Greenish Yellow (Green Gold), Permanent Green, Viridian Green, Yellow Ochre, Neutral Tint, your choice!

Some brands have different names for the colors but if you show this list to someone in the store they should be able to advise you.

*Or buy a set, most sets will have what you need plus a few extra. 

Other

• Roll of white paper towels
• Liter plastic water bottle that can be refilled
• Cup or jar for water
• A couple pencils, a white gum eraser, sharpener

Optional

• Masking Fluid 
• Watercolor block smaller format
• Brush case for traveling
• Cushion or stool for sitting
• Lightweight travel easel

Where to shop

Find out guide to art supply shops in Berlin HERE

Summer Workshops Update

register now for Summer Workshops!

The Berlin Drawing Room has an exciting and diverse selection of Workshop offerings for this Summer. Below are very brief logistics, but you can find more detailed information by following the link to each Workshop. The Watercolor and Drawing Workshops are suitable for beginners, while Leaving Traces is intended for more advanced students developing their portfolios.

There are three meetings left for the Spring Drawing Workshop (May 21, 28, and June 4). If you would like to come and visit the Berlin Drawing Room, join one of these final classes. Or make an appointment.

CONTACT 

Summer Watercolor Workshop:the Berlin Landscape

• June 28-July 15, 2012
• 6 meetings: Thursday, 6-9 pm (June 28, July 5, 12), Sunday, 12-3 pm (July 1, 8, 15)
• 120 Euro for the complete Workshop
• Link to class details: http://berlindrawingroom.blogspot.de/p/spring-watercolor-workshop.html

Summer Drawing Workshop:Drawing from Life

• July 23-August 15, 2012
• 8 meeting: Monday & Wednesday 6-9 pm (plus one field trip)
• 135 Euro for the complete Workshop
• Link to class details: http://berlindrawingroom.blogspot.de/p/drawing-workshop.html

Leaving Traces: Conceptual and Material Approaches

• TBA (contact for more information)
• Meets (Tuesday – Friday), and July 9 (Monday) 12-4 pm, with weekend to work independently
• 130 Euro for the complete Workshop
• Link to class details: http://berlindrawingroom.blogspot.de/p/leaving-traces-july-3-9.html

Berlin Drawing Room
photo: Matthew Griffin

Wasserfarbe, Aquarell, Watercolor

See Watercolor Workshop link for upcoming dates.

Summer Watercolor Workshop:June 28-July 15, 2012

the Berlin Landscape

How to paint with a limited palette.

Painting plein-air in Berlin

by Mira O’Brien, artist & instructor

An introduction to watercolor, with new techniques to be learned for the more experienced.  We will use the landscape of Berlin as a subject for practicing the subtle medium of watercolor.  Mira O’Brien often uses watercolor in her own work, and will guide the class through layering color and value, dry and wet brushstrokes, sketching with watercolor, and experimentation with new materials.

The class will meet every Sunday in a new location, and paint plein-air. In addition, the class will meet in the Berlin Drawing Room studio to focus on technique, which can then be applied in the field. 

No experience required! This class is perfect for beginners as well as more advanced students who want to improve their skills or just discover interesting landscape locations with fellow painters!

June 28-July 15, 2012

6 meetings: 3 x on Thursday in the studio from 6-9 pm (June 28, July 5, 12) and 3 x on Sunday in the field from 12-3 pm (July 1, 8, 15).

cost: 120 Euros for the entire class, or 25 Euros per session.

(materials are not included, but a supply list will be provided)

This Workshop is limited to 8 students.

To sign up contact miraob@gmail.com and you will receive a registration form and bank transfer details. Once the payment has been received, your participation will be confirmed and your place reserved.

J.M.W. Turner, “Storm Clouds (looking out to sea),” 1845

   

Mira O'Brien, "Overgrowth Series," 2011

'Studio Workshops' auf Englisch

All workshops at the Berlin Drawing Room are taught in English... but that does not mean it is only for Native English speakers!

Another reason to participate in studio workshops at the Berlin Drawing Room is to practice your English in a fun and creative environment!

Learn new vocabulary during the lessons and slide presentations, and then make use of it through conversation with other Native English speakers. Only an intermediate or conversational level of English is necessary to participate in the workshops.

Berlin Drawing Room in Kreuzberg

At the Berlin Drawing Room, we have had students from all over the world! And there are always a couple of locals in the class too.

Workshops include:
Drawing Workshop
Watercolor Workshop: the Berlin Landscape
Drawing Refresher

The Berlin Drawing Room is also another entry point into the Berlin art scene. Get exhibition recommendations from the Berlin Drawing Room Facebook page or directly from the instructor during class breaks. 

Students sharing techniques during class.

The Berlin Drawing room is an alternative to taking art classes at the Volkshochschule Berlin.  

drawing class details for new students

(this supply list is still valid for current Drawing Workshops)

Welcome to the new students in the Drawing Workshop!

I am posting some details here about the class, so you can find everything in one place.

Drawing Workshop Supply List

- various pencils from soft to hard (a kit of at least 6 pencils)

- sketch pad, A2-3 

- graphite stick (soft, that means ~ B6)

- kneadable eraser

- hard white eraser

- sharpener

Where to buy your drawing supplies?
Check out our guide to art supply stores in Berlin 
http://berlindrawingroom.blogspot.de/2015/03/art-supplies-in-berlin.html

pencil nub! after a vigorous day of drawing! 

One last thing. The Berlin Drawing Room FACEBOOK page: here

student drawing from the Natural History Museum field-trip