Watercolors on Location with Eric Michaels, NWS

Ideal for students with some painting experience, this 3-day plein air watercolor workshop will be held at three different locations throughout Montague and Whitehall. Students will meet at the ACWL-Nuveen on September 15 - locations for September 16 & 17 will be shared during the first class. Students must be able to provide their own transportation.

This class is designed to be fun and inspirational and will focus on how to relax and enjoy the experience of painting on location! The instruction will include methods to synthesize complicated subject matter down to its basics, making it more manageable and enabling participants to more easily express their creativity. You will learn about orchestrating the elements of each scene, paying special attention to the big shapes and their value relationships. Instructor Eric Michaels will be painting a quick demonstration at each location. 

Class minimum: 4

Class maximum: 7

Supplies

Students can bring their own supplies or the ACWL-Nuveen can supply them for an additional $20. Students using ACWL-Nuveen supplies will be able to keep their watercolor paper pad at the end of class - brushes, paints, easels and other materials MUST be returned to the ACWL-Nuveen. 

For those who will be bringing their own supplies, Eric recommends the following:

Paint:

- ultramarine blue

- cobalt blue

- cerulean blue

- venetian red

- viridian

- burnt sienna

- yellow ochre

- new gamboge (gamboges hue) - cadmium yellow could work here too

- cadmium red light

- alizarin crimson

- titanium white

Brushes:

- a couple of ox hair mops 

- one-inch sablette flat

- synthetic rounds: #10 #6 #4

- a small rigger (or lizard lick)

Other:

- palette

- a water reservoir

- standing easel or outdoor set-up

- watercolor paper - Eric recommends Arches 9" x 12" pad, 140lb

About the Instructor:

Eric Michaels is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America, the National Watercolor Society, The Pastel Society of America, Plein Air New Mexico and The Outdoor Painters Society. His paintings hang in private, corporate, museum and state collections; including the Albuquerque Museum of Fine Art, the Americana Museum, the Booth Museum, the Haggin Museum, the A.R. Mitchell Museum, the Institute of American Indian Arts, Phillips Petroleum, IBM, Honeywell-Sperry Inc., Puma International and the New Mexico State Governor’s Collection.

Michaels was born and raised in Illinois. His formal schooling concluded with a B.F.A in art. After a short stint as a commercial illustrator, he turned to a career in fine art and now resides in Whitehall, Michigan. Extensive worldwide travel provides him with constant inspiration.

To learn more, visit https://ericmichaelsfineart.com/

COVID-19 Considerations:

Class will be held outdoors and students will have 6 feet between each of them. Students should abide by all current COVID restrictions. 

ACWL-Nuveen classes are supported by the Nuveen Benevolent Trust, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts