These are workshops that SCVWS has run recently. You can view the "More about the workshop" to see details of each workshop.
"Sarah Yeoman"
Prevailing Winds
2021 Sarah Yeoman - A LIVE stream format
Watercolor Impressions
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
Enjoy the medium of watercolor in a relaxing and creative environment. Award winning watercolorist Sarah Yeoman, will lead you through a three day workshop focusing on helping you bring your creativity to light and aid in dispelling the myth that watercolor is difficult and unforgiving. Given the right encouragement and understanding of the basic fundamentals, watercolor is a wonderfully creative medium that is unmatched in ease of use, cost of materials, and pure enjoyment of artistic expression.
"David Lobenberg"
Flower Gurl
2021 David Lobenberg
California Vibe Watercolor Portraiture™
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
David has added a new element to his well-known California Vibe Watercolor Portraiture™ style - abstract stencil work and chalk markers. In this workshop, you will paint several California Vibe Portraiture™ paintings with expressive color hues and paint application techniques. In that and of itself, these end up being very exciting, non-traditional creations. What follows however with the abstract, non-representational stencil stage, are portraits that are amped up to an even higher level of visual excitement! Absolutely no portrait drawing experience is necessary to register for the workshop.
"Janet Rogers"
2021 Janet Rogers - LIVE stream format
Faces, Figures & Flowers
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
This interactive online workshop will begin with warm up exercises with color to paint loose and flowing watercolors, using flowers as our subject. We will focus on creating color and discovering design with flowers and nature to inspire us. Next, we will move into painting the portrait – discovering the use of color shifts to achieve translucent and glowing flesh tones. Experiencing this approach to the head will give us freedom to explore unexpected color and expression. To read a more in depth description of the workshop, click "more about workshop" below.
"John Giannotti"
Rolling Green
2021 John Giannotti
Watercolor Simplified - April 2021
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" WEEKLY CLASS (It's a twelve week series presented in four week segments and recordings will be available for 3 months.)
In this weekly class you will refresh your skills in a fun environment and learn ways to simplify your painting techniques. You will revisit Basic principles of design and composition through simple lessons and be encouraged to relax and not worry about “mistakes” to promote your growth as an artist. The instructor’s goal is help you achieve success in painting in your own voice and style.
Each week, the instructor will send out an email with two files attached. One is a photo of the image that will be painted as a class and the other is a line drawing that the student can use to trace or draw and have ready for class. And remember, “copy” is not a four letter word. You will learn that talent is only ONE ingredient in painting. Love of painting, insatiable curiosity, plus not striving for perfection are a few more.
"Caroline Mustard"
Tulips
2021 Caroline Mustard
A Painter's Guide to Drawing
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" WEEKLY CLASS FOR 4 WEEKS (Recordings available for 30 days)
Special: All students will receive a coupon to purchase the book "The Joy of Drawing" for half price.
If you are like many of us who "skipped" the step of learning to "draw" and went straight to painting and want to up your game in the that department, take this class!
In this weekly series of four classes, Caroline Mustard, author of "Joy of Drawing, Beginning Steps" along with her co-author Katy Lea will help students overcome any "fear" of drawing by giving you the drawing tools you need as a painter. You will learn to properly estimate proportions whether you are at the scene or even if you are copying from a photo. You will learn how to do quick thumbnail sketches to improve your composition and achieve correct values and not be a slave to the scene or photo in front of you. Each week the Instructor will show examples of painters and their drawing skill in how they use it to paint - great examples would be Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Van Gogh, Pisarro & George Seurat to name a few.
"Prague Evening Light"
2021 Ron Stocke
Painting Strong and Direct Watercolors
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
In this exciting three day workshop, watercolorist Ron Stocke will show students his techniques of painting exciting, loose watercolors. Students will be encouraged to push the limits and move away from illustrations and begin to create dramatic paintings using strong light, color harmony to create mood and interest, and strong values that will give your work a sense of depth. In addition, Ron will cover his tips to perfect perspective, composition and brushstrokes as well as how to simplify shapes.
""Barn" by John Giannotti"
2021 John Giannotti
Watercolor Simplified - May 2021
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" WEEKLY CLASS - (It's a NEW 4 week series and recordings will be available for 3 months.)
In this weekly class you will refresh your skills in a fun environment and learn ways to simplify your painting techniques. You will revisit basic principles of design and composition through simple lessons and be encouraged to relax and not worry about “mistakes” to promote your growth as an artist. The instructor’s goal is help you achieve success in painting in your own voice and style. Each week, the instructor will send out an email with two files attached. One is a photo of the image that will be painted as a class and the other is a line drawing that the student can use to trace or draw and have ready for class.
"Carl Purcell"
The Survivalist
2021 Carl Purcell - LIVE stream format
Paint Patterns for Stronger Paintings
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
Learn how to extract the most important design characteristics from your photos through patterns and other dominant elements, and then build a strong painting around them. To read a more in depth description of the workshop, supplies list, daily itinerary & bio, click "more about workshop" below.
2021 John Giannotti
Watercolor Simplified - August 2021
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" WEEKLY CLASS - (It's a NEW 4 week series and recordings will be available for 3 months.)
In this weekly class you will refresh your skills in a fun environment and learn ways to simplify your painting techniques. You will revisit basic principles of design and composition through simple lessons and be encouraged to relax and not worry about “mistakes” to promote your growth as an artist. The instructor’s goal is help you achieve success in painting in your own voice and style. Each week, the instructor will send out an email with two files attached. One is a photo of the image that will be painted as a class and the other is a line drawing that the student can use to trace or draw and have ready for class.
"Galena Creek"
Julie Gilbert Pollard
2021 Julie Gilbert Pollard - LIVE stream format
Watercolor Unleashed!
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
Through demos, instruction, one-on-one critique and lots of painting time, students will learn the techniques that will help them to make water look wet and splashy as it cascades over rocks and boulders. We will focus on the “anatomy” of a waterfall, negative painting and the creative use of color. Techniques will be demonstrated to address the various puzzles with which the artist is faced when painting this stunning, fascinating and challenging subject! Additionally, you will learn to use "acrylic underpinnings" to set the stage for vibrant colors in your paintings. he benefits of this method are numerous and is a unique approach to both watercolor and oil that will add considerably to your repertoire of painting techniques.
""Floridian Sunset" by David Lobenberg"
2021 David Lobenberg
Coast to Coast Sunsets, CA Vibe Style
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
Shake it up with David Lobenberg in this California Vibe inspired Coastal to Coast workshop.
Students will paint two striking ocean sunset scenes from reference photos taken by Lobenberg. The west coast photo was taken off the beach at Asilomar, California between Carmel and Monterey. The east coast photo was taken at a boat landing at Duneden on the west coast of Florida. With both landscapes, you will learn the art of watercoloring wet-on-wet sunsets with distant clouds. Moving forward within the picture frame, you’ll paint a breaking wave, ocean rock formations, sand texture, warm light reflecting off ocean wavelets, and a silhouetted pier filled with people observing the setting sun. You will be provided with both the photo images and corresponding outline drawings that will be traced onto half-sheets of watercolor paper well before the first day of the workshop. We’ll progress on both scenes from painting start to painting finish in incremental steps. At the end of the last day of the workshop, you will have had experience painting by-coastal the Lobenberg way!
""Giraffe" by John Giannotti"
2021 John Giannotti - REVISED START DATE
Watercolor Simplified - October 2021
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" WEEKLY CLASS - (It's a NEW 4 week series and recordings will be available for 3 months.)
In this weekly class you will refresh your skills in a fun environment and learn ways to simplify your painting techniques. You will be painting the image of a giraffe in one of the weekly sessions. The instructor’s goal is help you achieve success in painting in your own voice and style. Each week, the instructor will send out an email with two files attached. One is a photo of the image that will be painted as a class and the other is a line drawing that the student can use to trace or draw and have ready for class.Â
"Kyn Russia by Frank Eber"
2021 Frank Eber - Live Stream Option
Beyond Technique: Finding Individual Expression
"Online Workshop" via Zoom
Frank’s watercolor workshops reach beyond technique, encouraging individual expression and observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting. Topics will include design and composition, color and lighting, positives and negatives, simplification of shape, and atmospheric effects. The techniques you will learn in Frank’s workshop transcend the watercolor medium and encourages the individual artist’s expression while balancing the forces at play in creation of a spectacular painting.
""Pacific Grove" by Michael Holter"
2022 Michael Holter - Online Only
Watercolor Impressionism - Landscape
NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP IS - ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM
This workshop will focus on painting beautiful Landscape and Cityscape paintings. You paint from photographs and will explore the use of light and shadow to create interesting compositions and achieve dynamic results. Daily discussions and application of the principles and elements of design will be woven into your painting experience. You will focus on the use of watercolor to paint exciting impressionistic paintings. You paint from photographs and will explore the use of light and shadow and the principles of watercolor to create interesting compositions and achieve dynamic results. We will examine the fundamentals of watercolor painting to assure that all students are familiar with the techniques.
""Hanging Out" by Sterling Edwards"
2022 Sterling Edwards - Online Workshop
Stylized Watercolor Interpretations
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
Join world renowned watercolorist Sterling Edwards as he explains and demonstrates his process for developing eye catching and thought provoking stylized paintings with watercolor. All skill levels are invited to this creative and exciting class. If you're ready to take your creativity to the next level then this is the class that you don't want to miss.
""Venetian Nocturne""
by Keiko Tanabe
2022 Keiko Tanabe - In Person Only
Capturing Light & Emotion
NOTE: THIS IS AN IN PERSON ONLY WORKSHOP
You will learn what to look for in a composition, how to build a strong design, ideas to simplify, how to see and interpret as an artist, how to create light and atmosphere, how to express our emotions, etc. Through studies and step-by-step demonstrations, Keiko explains her methods, techniques and decision-making process that enable students to understand key elements and principles and how to make them work in a painting. She will share her techniques, philosophy and practical tips to make a painting that captures the essence of the subject that is full of life. The goal is to capture the essence of the subject matter that conveys a certain mood and atmosphere.
""Words Can't Describe""
by Jean Warren
2022 Jean Warren - Online Only
Watercolor Process & Improvisation
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOP
What inspires you? What is your color story? Your design story? We'll paint from life, sketches, and doodles to interpret the mood through color, value, structure and especially rhythm of the scene or subject. Painting representationally or abstractly (your choice), we will play with the spaces in-between, contrast and dominance. Through the process of painting, we can search, hunt and discover a new way of working, a new color combination, or an invented shape that we have never experienced before. Explore the many techniques of watercolor as we play and explore, and get out of our own way, and let the painting take shape, surprising us with its new mystery!
""St Giles Edinburgh""
by Iain Stewart
2022 Iain Stewart - In Person
Mastering the Urban Landscape
UPDATE: REDUCED PRICE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT HOOVER THEATRE
""Ode to Joy""
by David Lobenberg
2022 David Lobenberg - Online via Zoom Only
California Vibe - Pets & their People
The special bond between people and their pets just begs to be expressed through art. David Lobenberg's California Vibe Watercolor Portraiture; method with its colorful, energetic, flowing, and energetic style meets that need.
David will provide you with several fun, entertaining painting reference photos and associated outline drawing to trace onto half sheets of watercolor paper before the scheduled workshop start date. And during the workshop, he will teach you the art of observing and translating those photos into super eye-catching CA Vibe creations.
David teaches in a step-by-step progression from painting start to finish. Nobody is left behind and no questions during the process are left unanswered. His is known for a detail teaching style sprinkled with a dose of good humor.
""Poble Espanyol Barcelona""
by Brenda Swenson
2022 Brenda Swenson - In Person Only
Illustrated Journal with Watercolor
NOTE: THIS IS AN IN PERSON WORKSHOP - MASKS MAY BE REQUIRED
The Illustrated journal is the creative process of merging images and words together on a page. In the workshop we will explore fun and exciting ways to be creative with images, words and page design. Each day we’ll explore different drawing techniques, watercolor, and ink. Whether you’re interested in creating an illustrated journal for travel, gardening, daily life...amazing things happen when you put images and words together. You’ll come away from the workshop excited and inspired about your work! Best of all your illustrated journal will uniquely reflect your style and creative voice. Workshop participants will benefit from demonstrations, encouragement and individual help.
""Rocks" by Dale Laitinen"
2022 Dale Laitinen - In Person
Abstracting the Western Landscape
NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP IS IN PERSON AT THE HOOVER THEATRE
Students will learn through experimentation to paint shapes, rich with colors and details, complete to the final brushstroke. You will use observation, sketching, composition, and ultimately how to use washes of color that bring your painting to life. In this workshop the instructor will teach you through painting demos, slide presentations and individual instruction how to capture the underlying abstraction in nature and translate that process into a finished painting.
""Pink" by Karen Knutson"
2022 Karen Knutson - Online Only
Watercolor Wet & Wild!
NOTE: THIS IS AN ONLINE "LIVE" STREAM WORKSHOPÂ
Get ready to paint juicy, wet beginnings and then add detail with a process called Wire Drawing. I named it “wire drawing†because the drawing resembles a wire sculpture. These are done with permanent markers. Subjects can vary widely according to the artists’ preferences. Good examples are birds, fish, people with long hair, abstracts, still life settings, machinery, gears that remind you of steampunk art, etc. Color lessons and lots of design tips make this a win/win workshop! Limited collage will add texture to the painting.  All in all, this workshop will improve your design skills and imagination. Karen believes that art should be fun and easy. Karen Knutson is a very popular instructor who teaches workshops nationally.
"Lost in the Moment"
by Paul Jackson
2023 Paul Jackson
Painting Light in Watercolor
NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP IS IN PERSON AT THE HOOVER THEATRE
NEW: PRICE REDUCED BY $100
If watercolor is your passion, then this highly energized painting workshop is for you! Paul's stress-free, positive approach toward the act of painting will inspire you to loosen up and have fun again.
Paul will demonstrate the versatility of watercolor paint. You will learn how to work in thin layers of washes to build up luminous colors. Paul will lead you step-by-step with demonstrations of the painting process. Emphasis will be on what makes a good painting, planning the entire picture area, the importance of thinking through the composition, good division of shapes, value planning, what to communicate about the subject, and how to correct mistakes. Expect an intense, concentrated and lively workshop where you will elevate your understanding of watercolor. Beginners are always welcome!
Paul is the author of Painting Spectacular Light Effects in Watercolor and The Wandering Watercolorist.
"Day for Exploring"
by Brienne Brown
2023 Brienne M Brown
Painting Dynamic Watercolors
NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP IS AN ONLINE WORKSHOP VIA ZOOM
During this 4-Day workshop, Brienne will demonstrate and explain her process in watercolor. While sharing her love for the medium, she will put particular emphasis on getting your values correct and connecting shapes in order to create strong and dynamic watercolor paintings. During the first couple of days, Brienne will teach you how to use interesting value patterns to compose strong paintings. She will then discuss how she uses color to unify and set the mood of a painting. Throughout the workshop, Brienne will share useful training tools and tips to help you take your paintings to the next level. For the final day, Brienne will share some great exercises you can use to improve your skills and demonstrate how to frame watercolors without glass. No experience with watercolor painting is necessary, but some drawing experience is recommended.
"Journeys 4"
by Nancy Grigsby
2023 Nancy Grigsby - Workshop Cancelled - Demo will be held online
Expressing Your Artistic Inner Voice: A Meaningful & Creative Journey in Mixed Media
NOTE: THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
BUT YOU CAN STILL JOIN US FOR THE ONLINE ZOOM DEMO
In this demo, Nancy Grigsby will demonstrate it doesn't matter if you are a representational or abstract painter. The main goal is to open your creative soul and come away with the knowledge and freedom that will allow your artistic voice to become more evident in all of your work. Nancy teaches a 3-day course in abstract mixed media as well as a personalized creative self-analysis that will be the inspirational source behind the work you can create. You'll discover ways to use acrylics, stencils, stamps, collage, the gel plate, a variety of ephemera, texture, watercolor and more. You're asked to put your inhibitions and hesitations aside and literally learn to relax and have more fun with your art.
©1999 - 2022 Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Artwork on this site is copyright the individual artists and may not be used without express permission.
For questions or comments regarding this site, please email 
