*My beautiful and clever students proudly showing their fabulous watercolour nature studies.* ***From left to right:*** *Gail, Julie, Nicole, Lisa, Sheree (Mum), Shawna (Baby) and Rachel. Shawna approved of her Mum’s work and even thought it to be rather tasty!*

***Exercise 1.*** *A simple leaf study achieved with built up layers of wet on wet watercolour.*

***Exercise 2.*** *A nature study consisting of graduated watercolour layers from light to dark to create depth.*

*Grant was the only boy in the class and nailed watercolour.*

*Nicola has a delicate watercolour style.*

It was a breezy spring weekend of the 12th and 13th of November 2022 when Meridian Regional Arts Inc invited me to conduct two separate beginner watercolour workshops with people from the Merredin community. We met at the Meridian Art Shed, to learn how to arrange simple found objects from nature and transform them into visually pleasing watercolour paintings.

We learnt how to mix naturalistic colour from the three primary colours of blue, red and yellow. How to build a watercolour painting up in layers, starting from the lightest of washes, and finishing with the darkest. We experimented with various watercolour techniques, such as wet on wet. We also discovered that interesting and fun textural effects can be achieved.

With the stresses from not only the recent pandemic but also the busy lives we all live, my goal for the workshop was to use the creative process of watercolour painting as a form of therapy to slow down, release stress, and encourage relaxation of the mind. Not only did everyone enjoy learning how to use a fun and delicate paint medium but they also met new people, laughed, listened to soft background music, and exchanged conversation over cups of tea, and delicious homemade cake. Yes, I did mention cake! A big thank you goes to the lovely Cynthia from Dimensions Cafe in Merredin for her amazing chocolate and orange cake!

To me as an artist sharing what I have learnt with others, so they can learn, enjoy and develop new skills is so very rewarding. I have also learnt valuable new skills for the preparation and teaching of a watercolour workshop and feel more confident when speaking and engaging with people in a group situation.

By the end of the workshops, everyone had each produced a beautiful painting to be proud of and left with smiles on their faces. What I found most interesting was each painting had its own beauty and individuality which shows all artists whether professional or just beginning will find their own unique style. This makes me appreciate how wonderful it is to live in a world where we are all individual’s as it would be a dissatisfying world indeed to all be the same. Imagine an art world where artists only practice and produce identical art. I believe all art has a place and should be enjoyed and appreciated for what it uniquely is as someone has taken a personal journey to produce and share that art. We all beat to the beat of our own drum.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Many thanks go to, Meridian Regional Arts Inc, DLGSCI and Lotterywest for making these workshops and opportunities possible for artists and people within our local community.

If you would like to share your interest in watercolour, ink, mixed media, or printmaking workshops, please send me a message.