This workshop is designed to assist beginning watercolorists, as well as more seasoned painters, get the most out of the unique characteristics of the watercolor medium. Compositional strategies will be emphasized and participants will learn what to look for and how to distill visual information, responding to shapes, value, color, and the patterns, leading to stronger compositions. Participants will learn how to create paintings within a format, promote strong areas of dominance, and have a sense of unity from the very beginning. Demonstrations will be provided on how to plan and execute fresh watercolor washes and how to use brushes more effectively to create dynamic and energetic paintings.
Carl Purcell is an art educator and Professor Emeritus at Snow College where he taught for 30+ years and continues to teach as an adjunct instructor since his retirement. Carl was born in Utah, raised in Arizona, and completed his MFA at Brigham Young University. Watercolor has been Carl’s primary medium, although he has done many works in acrylic, drawing, and oil painting. He is a popular watercolor workshop instructor, and has conducted workshops from California to Virginia, and in Scotland and England. He has produced many instructional videos and is the author of Your Artist’s Brain, a compilation of two books, one on watercolor painting and one on drawing, available at Penguin Random House Publications. Carl’s emphasis has always been on helping others have a successful experience in the art of drawing and painting. To this end he is also the co-founder of the Summer Snow workshop experience. Carl Purcell is an Honor Member of the Utah Watercolor Society, and a Signature Member of the National Watercolor Society. Carl has earned numerous awards, and his paintings hang in many private and institutional collections.
