Hamilton Center for the Arts

Watercolor Classes

September Dates: 9/7, 9/8, 9/14, 9/15, 9/21, 9/22, 9/28, 9/29

October Dates: 10/5, 10/6, 10/12, 10/13, 10/19, 10/20, 10/26, 10/27

Time: Tuesdays or Wednesdays 9am-12pm

Price: $175 for four three hour classes

Instructor: Judy Levins

What: Watercolor lessons, painting demonstrations, tips & techniques from award winning artist Judith Haynes Levins. Twelve hours total of instruction consisting of four, three hour classes.

​

Class Limit: Limited to 8 vaccinated students.

​

Session Descriptions:
September - FINDING THE LIGHT  

• watercolor basic from beginner to intermediate

• using the path of light, techniques & principles to create drama in

your work

• customized instruction allowing you to express your creativity

• explore color, learn the importance of value

• how to compose a painting to please the eye

• loosen up your style and express with paint

• small classes for individual attention

October - PAINTING THE SEASON

•  watercolor basic from beginner to intermediate

• customized instruction allowing you to express your creativity

• How to paint your message and find your voice

• loosen up your style and express with paint

• how to compose a landscape vs. copy

• explore color, learn the importance of value

• how to know when your painting is finished

• small classes for individual attention

​

Supply List from the Instructor: 

• Paper: I work with Arches 140-pound cold press paper. We will be mainly working on a quarter sheet size or 11 x 15. Other brands of paper are fine as long as they are 100% cotton like Fabriano, Winsor/Newton, please no student grade (Strathmore). Have plenty of paper as we will be having fun trying new things. 

• Brushes: The majority of my painting is done with a squirrel mop burhs, if purchasing one be sure to get #6 or #8. It is good to have a 1'' flat, a rigger, and a #8 round. Please bring what brushes you have, recommendations can be made during class. 

• Paint: please have tubes. We will squeeze fresh paint at the beginning of class.  I use mostly Daniel Smith paints, others are fine as long as they are professional grade. A range of pigments from warm to cool. 

  • Hansa yellow light​, Holbein's Jaune Brilliant no. 1, Aureolin or Cadmium yellow, Brilliant orange or perinone orange, Carmine or Alizarin Crimson, Opera pink or Rhodonite Genuine, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna or Piemontite Genuine, Raw Sienna or Quinacridone Gold, Sap Green or Olive Green, Cobalt blue, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean blue or Maganese Blue or Verditer blue, Neutral tint

  • Extra pigments I enjoy: Holbein's Horizon Blue and Lavender 

• Palette: Like most artists, I have numerous palettes. In the field I use a small handheld palette, in the student I use a John Pike large well palette with a lid. Bring what palette you are comfortable with. If purchasing, I recommend a John Pike Pallete. 

• Board: gator board or hard surface large enough to accommodate quarter sheet of paper. 

• Sketch pad: 9 x 12 MULTIPLE SURFACE paper

• Miscellaneous: Soft pencil, kneaded eraser, masking tape (white or neutral), paper towels, a hand towel you don't mind getting stained, water container, small spray bottle

About the Instructor: Judy Levins is a Cazenovia NY based watercolor artist that has been painting her world for several years. Judy paints in a bold energetic manner. She is an active member of both the Cazenovia Watercolor Society and the Central New York Watercolor Society where she holds Gold Medallion Signature status and serves on the Board of Directors. Judy paints en plein air twice weekly both with the Cazenovia area painter and the Mountain Air Painters in the Adirondacks. She is an award winning artist that teaches private watercolor lessons in her home studio, teaches online classes, as well as traveling to teach watercolor workshops. She’s a popular instructor who’s enthusiasm for the medium is contagious. To learn more about Judy visit jhlevins.com

Furnature Painting Class

Date: Tuesdays or Wednesdays starting October 4th, 2021

Time: 9am-12pm

Price: $200 for four three hour classes

Instructor: Suzanne Hyde 

What: furniture painting and faux finishes, painting demonstrations, tips & techniques. Twelve hours total of instruction consisting of four, three hour classes. 

​

Class Limit: Limited to 6 vaccinated students.

​

Session Descriptions:

Bring a small piece of furniture and printed pictures of what you wish to paint onto the surface of the item. 

​

About the instructor: Suzanne Hyde began her career as a scenic painter in the 1980's after attending Ryerson University in Toronto.  As a contract scenic painter she painted such original Broadway productions such as Les Miserable, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, a position that brought her to London England and to work on the Broadway stages.  Later during the recession in 2010 the industry changed and a market for furniture and faux painting came to the surface.  As a  way of continuing a painting career -  and living in Charlotte NC, Suzanne opened a small business to cater to the industry.  Here the furniture painting industry became a way of life and faux finishes were used on a regular basis on high end homes in the Carolinas.  This is not yet been a demand in the upstate NY  area, but this may be the change on the horizon.