Create Your Own Watercolor

In this hands-on workshop, students learned the fundamental process of creating their own watercolor paints from scratch, as artists of the past did. This included mixing pigments with a binder and formulating desired color palettes. We looked at the properties of different colors and how to prepare and store the watercolor paint. Using a paint muller and a slab to mix paints, students selected different powdered pigments to develop a custom watercolor palette. We also created color swatches of each color made throughout the first day.

The painting portion of this workshop focused on techniques like color mixing, brush control, wet-on-wet application, and layering to create simple compositions while becoming familiar with pigments, materials, mediums, and paper types. We ended the workshop by using our reference swatches to inform rough compositions, applying these techniques.

Making paint with students at the Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts.

Preparing Watercolor Paints

The workshop kicked off with a hands-on look at the materials needed to create watercolor paint. We started with basic ingredients to create a binder. Students learned how this is vital in making paint as it ensures the pigment adheres. Without a binder, the pigment will slough off the surface of the paper.

By the end of the first day, each participant had crafted their own set of watercolor half pans, stored in small tins for future use. This hands-on approach allowed students to experiment with colors, creating unique palettes that reflected individual preferences and aesthetics.

Fundamental Watercolor Techniques

On the second day, we dove into practicing essential watercolor painting techniques. Our first focus was color mixing. We spent time blending hues to create gradients and washes. Using the paints we made, we conducted exercises to see how different color properties mingled. Blending yellow and blue yielded various shades of green, revealing the beauty of color theory in real-time, and different pigments reacted to each other very differently.

Next, we worked on brush control. We practiced different strokes, learning how to master the application of paint on paper. Techniques like wet-on-wet application produced stunning results as colors merged unpredictably on the page. Sometimes the best results emerge from letting go of control.

Layering furthered our understanding of watercolor techniques. We learned how to add depth and dimension to our paintings through successive washes. For instance, applying a light wash of color and then layering darker shades creates depth that brings the artwork to life.

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Hands-On Learning

Creating your own watercolor paint offers a myriad of thrilling opportunities. This workshop emphasized that art is about the exploration and learning process, not merely the end result. I strongly recommend that anyone intrigued by this medium dive in and experience the delight of making their own colors.

Remembering the Eliot School

As a woodworking and visual arts instructor, I developed classroom curricula for children to enrich their learning experiences. Additionally, I took part in the School & Community Partnership Program, delivering art education to young individuals in their own communities.

The last time I was at the Eliot School, I vividly remember standing in front of a group of eager students, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. I was informing them that, due to the rising health concerns surrounding the pandemic, we would be staying home for an initial period of two weeks to ensure everyone's safety. It felt surreal to deliver such news, as the atmosphere was charged with uncertainty. The students, accustomed to their daily routines filled with laughter, learning, and social interactions, were suddenly faced with the prospect of being away from their school environment. Little did we know that those two weeks would stretch into an extended period of isolation and disruption, leading to a long pandemic lockdown that would change the educational landscape. The Eliot School, a bustling hub of activity, became a distant memory, as I would relocate to my home state of Minnesota.

I want to express my gratitude to the Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts for inviting me to teach this class. It was wonderful to visit Boston and the school again.