Z 2024-A4 Cancelled - Pen & Ink with Watercolor Workshop with Dave Rueckert

Pen & Ink with Watercolor Workshop
Saturday & Sunday, October 12th - 13th, 11:00am - 3:00pm (2 day workshop)

In this workshop participants will learn to sketch and paint environments with pen and ink and watercolor.

Emphasis will be placed on having fun and enjoying the process. Instruction will be oriented toward loose, quick, and less detailed methods of sketching as opposed to longer, highly studied and more detailed approaches. We will embrace drawing imperfections as part of the process - in fact we may welcome them as they will often lend more character, interest and energy to your artwork.

Note: After developing skills through practice by working from photos in our classroom, you can then go on location, anytime, anywhere to capture the environment, whether you wish to participate in the popular Urban Sketching movement, or just apply them to making artwork from photos of your travel experiences!

Workshop Level - appropriate for beginner to advanced adult students, 18 and over. Younger students can contact the instructor to discuss whether their experience level is appropriate for the course.

David Rueckert has 20+ years of full-time, college-level teaching experience in graphic and media design as well as digital and traditional arts. He holds an M.F.A. degree in Art & Visual Technology with a specialization in Digital Arts from George Mason University, and an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts (Studio) from the University of Mary Washington. He has taught numerous workshops previously at the Virginia Beach Art Center.

Required Supplies / Materials

Bring what you have or purchase the following:

• Black Bic Pen
• Water-Dissolvable Ink Pen
• Waterproof Black Ink Pen
• Watercolor Paints
• Watercolor Paper
• Brushes
• Paper Towels

If you want more details and help choosing what to purchase, please read the rest of the supply list below. It is quite detailed in describing the basic items listed above in order to assist in selecting from the many alternatives available. Some additional optional items are also listed.

• 1. Black Bic Pen or other cheap ball point - for a drawing exercise

• 2. Water-Dissolvable Ink Pen - for a drawing exercise. Get one of these options:
  • Speedball Elegant Writer (silver colored body) - favorite of past participants. Black ink that dissolves into beautiful colors
  • Pentel Fude Brush Pen FL2L - Black ink, dissolves into grey tones
  • Stabilo 88 Fineliner - Ok if you already have (Color ok)
  • Fountain pens (see below) - if you have or get one of these it will usually come default with dissolvable ink cartridges.

• 3. Waterproof Black Ink Pen - required for use with watercolor
• Choices include a Fineliner and/or Fountain Pen - either may be used for the workshop.
• Ink must be waterproof when dry. If you are not sure, choose from the following options:
• Fineliner Artist Pen - easiest, most direct option! Possible choices:
• Sakura Micron Pigma Pens
• Uni Pin Drawing Fineliner Pens
• STAEDTLER Pigment Liner Pens
• Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens
• Recommended Economical sets of 4 to 6 pens with a variety of point widths are available from most makers. For example: Uni Pin - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F38T9C4?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
• If you can only bring a single pen, get a mid-range point size such as 02 or 03.
• Fountain Pen - Great for expressive drawing and fun to use once set up! Not required, bring or get one if you are interested.
• Lamy Safari Pen filled with Platinum Carbon Ink - used and recommended by instructor.
• Pen with Converter - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0928VBP1D/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&th=1
• Ink - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0028MTSFQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
• Note: This pen comes with stock cartridges and also with a converter that can be filled with the Carbon ink - most fountain pen stock cartridges are not waterproof. Please do not use other inks such as India that may clog and ruin your pen!
• Other pen brands ok too but get an appropriate converter for waterproof ink.
• Sailor Fude De Mannen Pen - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002U0SOLU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
• Sailor Converter - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002B49NXI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
• 4. Watercolor Paints - bring whatever you have, include a range of colors. Artist quality paints from brands such as M. Graham, Sennelier, Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, and Qor are recommended.
• If you are a beginner on a budget and must purchase paints, and want an economical, great portable set, consider the following. It comes with Winsor & Newton’s Cotman line of paints. These are “student” level paints, but the color choices are well thought out and all are artist quality lightfast! The palette is also available with W&N Professional Watercolor paints at 3-4 times the cost.
• https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N9B3WM?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details or
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004THXI/ref=a...
• A spritzer bottle is helpful if you have pan watercolors.

• Paper - Must be Watercolor or Multimedia - Block, Pad, or Sketchbook formats are most convenient.

• To make it simple you can’t go wrong with a 9 x 12, 140 lb. Arches watercolor block. Shop for best price. https://www.amazon.com/Arches-Watercolor-Block-Cold-Press/dp/B0007XDHGO/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=arches%2Bwatercolor%2Bblock&qid=1706795772&sr=8-6&th=1
• Note: Paper is the one area where are you really shouldn't scrimp on quality. Prioritize your money investment here over paints and brushes.
• Avoid really cheap, no-name, inexpensive papers. Beginners that get frustrated in watercolor often do so because they are using poor quality paper that doesn't perform well.

• If you want to choose other options, consider the following:
• Surface - Hot Press (smooth) or Cold Press (lightly textured) - both are acceptable. Pen and ink artists usually prefer the Hot Press for smoothness and rendering detail, many watercolorists the Cold Press for texture. It’s a toss-up since we are using both together.
• Size - 9 x12 inches down to about 6 x 9, or approximately A5 - A4 size. You can tear down larger sheet if you already have it. Smallish size is usually used for urban sketching and plein-air work.
• Weight 140 lb. or more, can be a little less if a high-quality sketchbook.
• Quality 100% cotton watercolor paper recommended from a trusted brand such as Arches, Fabriano Artistico, Stonehenge Aqua, Saunders Waterford, Canson Heritage, or Hahnemuehle Collection.
• Sketchbooks - Stillman & Birn Zeta used and recommended by instructor. Sketchbooks must have watercolor or multimedia paper.

• Brushes - can be Tradtional Watercolor Brushes or Water-Brushes with a self-contained water reservoir and synthetic brush tip.
  • Tradtional Watercolor Brushes - bring whatever you have - at minimum a mid-size flat and round. You will find there are very expensive watercolor brushes.
  • If you must purchase, you will see the following brush sizes - flat (1/4, 1/2, 3/4) and round (2, 4, 6, 8). Get a mid-size of one each, or if you can afford 2, a larger and smaller from the range of each.

• Water-Brushes - Instructor uses and can recommend Pentel; has had some disappointments with cheap knockoffs. A Pentel set with 3 or 4 brush sizes is a good choice, available at Dick Blick and amazon - https://www.dickblick.com/products/pentel-aquash-water-brush/

Optional:

• White Pen/Marker for Highlights - Acrylic Marker such as Uni Posca Extra Fine or another brand, such as Gelly Roll
• Pencil (2H or HB preferred) and Eraser

Contact the instructor with any questions on materials by email approximately a week before the workshop begins.

drueckert11@gmail.com

Supporter Tuition - Immediately qualify for Supporter Tuition with a donation of $50 or more.

Refund Policy: https://www.artcentervb.org/classpolicies.html
(Please read refund policy and email create@artcentervb.org for a qualified refund)