Study Guide

Objective

The students will be able to
• compare the expressive and practical differences between oil- and water-soluble painting techniques
• adopt acrylic and watercolour methods in their expression.
• apply colour and composition theory in practice
• create colour phenomena in painting by way of optical mixing.
• apply their knowledge of different techniques and demonstrate this knowledge in the materials exam.

Content

The students learn about the theory and practice of water-soluble techniques, their expressive potential and colour perception. The students will use the course assignments and independent work to explore their personal style of expression.
The students are expected to actively participate in instruction and feedback discussions. The course work includes course assignments and the materials exam, which must be passed.

Materials

-

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures and joint exercises. During the course, students will work both on jointly scheduled technique exercises and on developing their own ideas. The work is a dialogue between your own painting ideas and feedback. Feedback is given by both the teacher and fellow students.

Exam schedules

-

Completion alternatives

-

Student workload

Teacher present Tue-Thu, student working hours Tue-Fri 9-16.

Introduce an interesting watercolour painter to the class. Preparation (search): 2 hours, presentation 10 min.

Show the tasks in the end of the course:
1. your own choice of painting demo tasks
2. 1 painting from a photograph
3. 1 free painting, your own choice
4. a clean paper/finished painting straightened with glue paper (or your own innovation)

Content scheduling

The course will take place from 7.1.-24.1.2025.Students will work in the Big Painting Room (F209) and the Small Painting Room (F208), starting in the Small Painting Room on Wednesday 8.1.2025 at 9 am. At the beginning of the course everyone should have: watercolours, water cups of different sizes, watercolour brushes, at least one (grey/black) watercolour pencil, masking tape, sponge and/or spray bottle. At least 2 large sheets (approx. 50x70cm) of watercolour paper: e.g. Fabriano 300g/m2. Participation in the water-soluble methods course does not require a background in painting.

The school will provide small-sized watercolour papers for common exercises and a small amount of basic equipment. Buy the equipment and at least 2 large sheets of watercolour paper, for example from the framing shop in Itäisenkatu (Turku) or from Tempera (Helsinki).

Water-soluble painting techniques/
Watercolour course 7.1.-23.1.2025 5 cr
timetable subject to change

teacher: visual artist Kati Immonen
+358-41-5477686, katimariaimmonen@gmail.com
katiimmonen.com
@katiimmonen

At the beginning of the course everyone should have: at least 2 large (50x70) sheets of watercolour paper (e.g. Fabriano 300 g), watercolours, water cups of different sizes, watercolour brushes, at least one (grey/black) watercolour pencil, masking tape, sponge and/or spray bottle.

The school will provide watercolour papers for common exercises and a small amount of other basic equipment. If you do not already have watercolours, please do not buy them at Biltema or Clas Ohlsson, but for example at the frame shop on Itäisenkatu. The list of materials will be revised during the course.


Course timetable

Week 1

Start Tue 7.1. at 1 pm (13.00), Small painting class F208
Preparation for joint painting exercises - equipment, working spaces, still life. Note: bring your own simple mini-set (your still life can fit on A5 paper). The placemat will be used in the technique exercises. This is not the time to paint from a photograph. The aim is to go through the basic techniques of watercolour with quick and simple exercises.

Common painting demo: painting and sketching methods at the pace of croquis.
You will need on Tue-Wed in total: 8-10 small (max A4) watercolour papers and one larger paper. School paper or your own paper. No works but exercises but quality paper is still essential.

Start: soak 2 pieces of paper e.g. under the sink, put the papers in a plastic bag.

1. Wet to dry. First paint with plain water, then drizzle the paint over the watery areas. Apply varying degrees of wetness to each area.
2. Wet to dry, looking for a mark where you draw and paint at the same time. For example, use a large round brush with a sharp tip.
3. Dampen the paper with a spray bottle or sponge vaguely, painting on wet
4. Take the wet paper out of the plastic bag, dry the excess. Make sure the paper is evenly wet on all sides. Paint wet on wet.
5. Same as the previous one - this one takes a bit of practice!
6. Sketch with the same colour watercolour pencil as the painting (aim: the drawing line disappears)
7. An abstract colour cloud on a blank piece of larger paper
8. Portrait croquis with free style.

Tue afternoon: optional assignment: deepen, take over "melting" the watercolour pencil sketch line into the painting. Do a small painting, anticipating the color of the pencil according to the color ranges to come (pretty big goal, but try).

Wed 8.1. at 9 am
Lecture in the Big Painting Class F209: methods and materials for watercolour painting.

After the lecture, a break and a joint painting demo will continue.
9. sketch with wood crayon or pencil
10. Making a background together for one of yesterday's paintings: just wet the background and drop/spread the colour.
11. Make a background together from one of yesterday's paintings (or on clean paper if you have enough paper): two colours, the third is made on wet paper.

12. A sharp red puddle on top of yesterday's painting
13. Soft red cloud of colour over yesterday's painting

Thu 9.1. at 9am, painting
Optional painting work or optional task: deepen, take over the "melting" of the watercolour pencil line into the painting. Make a small painting, anticipating the colour of the pencil according to the colour ranges to come (quite a big goal, but try).

Homework: find and print a starting point image for next week's assignment OR sketch/create your own free topic.


Week 2

Tue 14 Jan at 9am
Lecture at 9 am in the Big painting Class F209: watercolour as a medium for the contemporary painter.
After the lecture a break, in the afternoon:
Painting from a photograph - two different versions, two different watercolour techniques
1. Thin overlapping optical blends (pre-mixed colours) - no black allowed. Paint thin "films" of colour layered on top of each other.
2. Same image as above, do in your own free style. For example, you can combine techniques you have already learnt in different parts of the picture or concentrate on a technique you like.

Wed 15.1. at 9 am
Lecture in Big Painting Class: History of watercolour painting

Afternoon:
-Two uses of adhesive paper


Thu 16.1. at 13:00
Big painting class at 13.00:
Intermediate critique/review of work done so far, with a tour of everyone's workstation.

Feedback and wishes to the teacher for the rest of the course.


Week 3

Tue 21.1. at 9 am
Lecture at 9 am in the Bic Painting Classroom: Kati will present her work.

In the afternoon, your choice of painting work.

Painting demo: masking fluid, tape and oil pastel - how to protect (mask) parts of the paper and highlight details? You can try different masking techniques or just listen and paint on your own.

Wed 22.1. at 9 am
Big painting class at 9: Introduce a watercolour painter of your interest to the rest of the group and the teacher, e.g. from the artist's website


Thu 23.1. at 13

Final evaluation in the large painting classroom from 13:00.

Show the tasks at the inspection:
quick paintings from the painting demo assignments, of your choise
1 painting from a photograph
1 free, self-made painting
1 paper or painting glued and straightened with tape

Further information

erika.adamsson@turkuamk.fi, katimariaimmonen@gmail.com

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessed (1-5) on task completion, attendance, commitment to and development of own work, collegial responsibility: dialogic commentary on student colleagues' work, creating a supportive and safe working environment. Attendance in lectures and in jointly scheduled classes 80%. Absences above this will be compensated by additional work.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

Assignments not completed, student has not attended classes.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Student present occasionally, no tasks done, little independent painting. Limited study and comment on paintings by other students in the same course.
The student is able to work in a safe manner, taking into account the safety of the workplace and other people working in the space.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

Student present regularly, tasks mostly completed, independent painting work started. Familiarisation with and commenting on paintings of students in the same course started. The student is able to work in a safe manner, taking into account the safety of the workplace and other people working in the space.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Student present regularly, tasks completed, independent painting work well underway. Students test and experiment and apply what they learn to their own work. Studying and commenting on paintings of other students in the same course. Students will be able to work in a way that respects work safety and is considerate of others working in the space.