California Watercolor Association

"Figurative Watercolor on Synthetic Paper"

California artist-teacher George James (AWS DF, NWS, NWWS, WW) will demonstrate figure and landscape painting composition, and the mechanics of transparent watercolor on synthetic surfaces as well as on traditional watercolor paper. Among the concepts included are figure drawing and its impact on painting strategies, painting and paint management, building the figure in the gesture language of watercolor, and building from saturated color to water.

James is currently Professor of Art Emeritus at California State (Fullerton). Motivated to try a new and unique approach to the watercolor process, James began to explore the use of synthetic papers. His success with this approach is shown by the recognition his work has received from major art organizations and publications.

James won the Gold Medal in the 1999 American Watercolor Society annual show, and the Silver Star in the 2001 National Watercolor Society annual show. AWS and NWS traveling shows have included his work.

For more information, see his website at www.georgejameswatercolor. com/.

To register print out the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with your check to the name and address printed on the form.

For more details, please contact

"Watercolor Secrets Revealed"

Tom's objective is to show the vast range and flexibility of watercolor and to put emotion and conviction into painting by exploring, experimenting and developing creativity. He likes to put fun into the process of painting, along with enthusiasm, new techniques, and knowledge you can use for a lifetime. You will see daily demonstration paintings, with detailed explanations of the how's and why's, followed by individual attention. You will come away with enthusiasm for watercolor painting, some new ideas, a new friend and knowledge you can use for a lifetime. Past students have called his workshop "the best workshop I have ever had" and said that Lynch is "patient, positive and knowledgeable."

To this class, Lynch brings the same energy as seen on his national PBS series "Fun with Watercolor" that has aired for the last 20 years. His accomplishments, credits and awards are listed in Who's Who in American Art, and he is the recipient of two lifetime achievement awards. He has also authored seven books. His works are featured in all the leading art publications. Among his many prestigious exhibits was a one-man show at the American Embassy in Paris and four U.S. Open Golf Tournaments.

For more information, see his website at www.tomlynch.com/.

To register print out the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with your check to the name and address printed on the form.

For more details, please contact

"Personal Expression (With Emphasis On Design)"

This workshop is for all types of watermedia painters -- whether their style of painting is representational, abstract, or non-objective. It is also for all types of aqueous mediums -- watercolor, acrylic, gesso, gouache, and mixed media. After years of experience with watercolor landscape and flower painting, Donna has evolved through abstract gouache and acrylic painting to her current mixed media, collage approach to non-objective painting.

The emphasis is on searching for personal content, design, and composition. Participants will explore personal aspects of their own paintings and work on their own design elements and principles.

They will be invited to experiment with new mediums and collage, with an emphasis on new thoughts, new ideas and a new direction.

Donna Watson is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society and the Northwest Watercolor Society. She is also a member of the Women Painters of Washington. She has won numerous awards in national and international juried exhibitions. She has had articles and paintings published in numerous publications, such as American Artist, The Artist Magazine, Watercolor Magic and Watercolor magazine issues. Donna has experience as a juror and workshop instructor in the United States and Canada.

For more information, see her website at donnawatsonstudios.com/.

To register print out the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with your check to the name and address printed on the form.

For more details, please contact

"Out of the Ordinary"

Sonoma artist Dick Cole describes his workshop as "transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, in which the familiar and the commonplace will take on new and exciting aspects." This workshop will combine plein aire painting and classroom time. Participants will be encouraged to add new wrinkles to their painting skills, e.g. combining pastel and gouache with watercolor.

Cole says that plein aire painting has helped him loosen up his brushwork and free up his style. As a value painter, he likes to work with light and shadow to dramatize common objects. He is also skilled at using computers to enhance images, sometimes altering values and colors to make the images more exciting.

Cole (AWS, NWS, CWA) has received many awards as an illustrator as well as a watercolorist. Cole is the recipient of awards from NWS, AWS, and in 2000, won the CWA National Show's Gold Medal/Best of Show. He was also included in the NWS 2000 show and traveling exhibition. In 2003 and 2006, Cole received awards from both AWS and NWS. Cole's work was in the JuneÔ04 International Artist (Watercolor Interiors) and the July'06 American Artist.

For more information, see his website at www.dickcolewatercolors.com/.

To register print out the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with your check to the name and address printed on the form.

For more details, please contact

"Pours & More (intermediate-advanced)"

Ready for a boost towards more creative, stronger compositions? Explore the use of stronger values and unusual color to interpret each person's unique vision. Respond to the joy and freedom of working with pours of transparent watercolors and acrylics, using opaque media for that special sparkle. The importance of the relationship between the abstract underlying pattern and the realistic subject will be demonstrated as the class moves from concept, to preparation, to execution and completion. Attention will be given to simplifying and focusing on what are the important elements of the painting as we experiment with liberating alternative methods of applying pigment to paper.

Jean is the author of Pouring Light, Layering Transparent Watercolor. She is a Signature Member of AWS and NWS. Jean also was a member of AWS' Board of Directors (2000-2002), Chair of the Awards Jury for the 2002 Exhibition, and a member of the Jury of Selection for the AWS 2005 Exhibition. In 2007, she will be on NWS' Selection Jury for their Exhibition.

For more information, see her website at hometown.aol.com/cwgfl/jean_grastorf.html.

To register print out the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with your check to the name and address printed on the form.

For more details, please contact

http://www.donnazagotta.com/

"Developing Ideas for Creative Paintings"

In this workshop, Donna Zagotta (AWS/NWS) will show how to turn ordinary objects into creative, imaginative, and personal paintings, focusing on color and composition, and a personal use of the elements and principles of design.. Donna will discuss her innovative approach of thinking outside the watercolor box, which was featured in her International Artist magazine article, Adding Body to Watercolor.

All levels are welcome and this workshop is open to all media. Donna will use watercolor and white gouache in her demonstrations. Students will bring their own reference materials (photos, sketches, etc.) and can bring paintings in progress to work on or begin new ones.

Active professionally for 20+ years, Zagotta's work has graced the covers of Watercolor Expressions, The Artist's Magazine, and D&D Magazine. Watercolor Magic Yearbook 2001's "Ones to Watch," and Watermedia Focus called Donna "An Artist Worth Noting."

Donna Zagotta's paintings have evolved from emphasis on traditional watercolor techniques and realism to an unconventional use of watercolor and exploring the area that lies between realism and abstraction.

For more information, see her website at www.donnazagotta.com/.

To register print out the Registration Form, fill it out and mail it with your check to the name and address printed on the form.

For more details, please contact