Botanical Watercolour Class: Summer Fruits

Paint late Summer Foliage in this inviting new class!


Ann Mackowski
Ann Mackowski
4.9 (48)
Instagram followers 3k followers

3 hours

Class size 1 to 15 (public classes), 1 to 2
  £40 (PayPal Pay in 3 available)

Capture the lush colours and expressive shapes of late summer in this relaxed, beginner-friendly watercolour workshop in central London.
Late summer is one of the most beautiful times to paint foliage: deep greens sit alongside sun-bleached grasses, delicate seed heads, fading flowers and the first touches of warm autumn colour.
In this two-hour workshop, you’ll learn the essential techniques of watercolour while creating your own loose and expressive study of late-summer foliage.
Perfect for complete beginners, the class will introduce you to watercolour step by step. We’ll explore how to control the balance of water and pigment, mix natural and varied greens, create soft wet-in-wet colour transitions and use different brush marks to suggest leaves, grasses, stems and seed heads.
Rather than painstakingly painting every leaf, you’ll learn how to simplify what you see and use loose, confident marks to create the impression of abundant foliage.
We’ll begin with a series of short demonstrations and exercises before bringing the techniques together in a finished late-summer botanical painting of your own.
What you’ll learn
How to control water and pigment
Essential wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques
How to mix beautiful, natural-looking greens
Simple brush techniques for leaves, stems and grasses
How to create delicate seed heads and botanical details
How to combine soft and sharp edges
How to simplify complicated foliage
How to arrange different plants into a balanced composition
No previous drawing or painting experience is needed. The class is designed to be approachable for complete beginners, with plenty of demonstrations and individual guidance.
All materials are provided, so you can simply arrive and paint.
You’ll leave with your own late-summer watercolour painting, practice studies and techniques that you can continue using at home.
About Your Tutor
The workshop is taught by Ann Mackowski, a London-based artist and experienced art teacher specialising in drawing, watercolour and oil painting.
Ann has been teaching art in central London for over ten years, working with everyone from complete beginners picking up a brush for the first time to more experienced artists looking to develop their technique.
Ann is an award winning artist with extensive experience, having exhibited with the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours, the New English Art Club, Society of Women Artists, and she was a featured contestant on Sky Landscape Artist of the Year.
Ann runs Soho Life Drawing and Private Art Events London, teaching regular classes, private tuition and creative events in the heart of London.
Come along for a relaxed afternoon of painting and discover just how expressive watercolour can be.
What you'll get
Professional watercolour supplies to use and your own completed painting to take home!
Knowledge required
Beginner-friendly.
What to bring
Just yourself!
Location

"Fry Room", 8 Hop Gardens WC2N 4EH

This venue is within walking distance of Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Covent Garden, Embankment and Piccadilly Circus tube stations

Botanical Watercolour Class: Summer Fruits location
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Your teacher

Ann Mackowski
Ann Mackowski

4.9 (48)
Instagram followers 3k followers
female Women-owned

I started Soho Life Drawing in 2018 after working professionally as an artist for several years when I realised that there was a lack of accessible and affordable creative outlets for non-artist adults in London. Since then I've run hundreds of classes both at my weekly drop-in class in Leicester Square; for corporations and animation studios including Buzzfeed, Liberty London, and Sharkmob; and universities such as the University of the Arts London. Privately, I teach professional artists who come to me for technical training.
As an artist, I've been exhibited internationally in both solo and group shows and have won several residencies--the most recent being Espronceda's 2020 Open Call. I was a shortlisted contestant on 2016's Sky Landscape Artist of the Year. I exhibit regularly with the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours on Pall Mall, as well as with the Society of Women Artists. While I've focussed on teaching in recent years, I still do some commissioned work and exhibit with galleries representing me. I have a Masters in Fine Art from Chelsea College of Art and Design.
I love teaching art because I believe anyone can do it with the right training! In particular, I'm passionate about breaking down the internal barriers people not trained in art have about being creative. Creativity is important for so many reasons, beyond the finished product, and it's my goal to make my classes both extremely accessible and very affordable so that people from all walks of life have a chance to join.

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