Watercolour Painting (May Day School)

16/05/2026

Duration : 1 day

| Arts & Craft

Cover aspects of design and composition as well as paint application and the use of colour.

Brief description:

This day school will provide instruction and support on how to compose and paint a still life in watercolours. Learners can choose their own image to paint either from photographs, paintings by other artists or their own objects (fruit or flowers for example). Aspects of design and composition will be covered as well as paint application and the use of colour.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Previous experience and knowledge will be built upon but there is no requirement for it as the course covers all ability levels. No previous experience is necessary.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this session you will be able to:

  • Arrange a still life
  • Select the important shapes
  • Effectively use colour to create shapes and form
  • Select, mix and apply colours according to their own preferences.
  • Choose from a range of techniques and studio practices to enable them to achieve their goals (flat washes, blended washes, textured marks).
  • Experiment with a range of innovative techniques and develop them to suit individual outcomes.

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment.

Please bring any objects, items or favourite things to paint. You can paint from photographs however it is better to print these beforehand. These do not need to be A4 size, A5 is fine. Nothing else - we will supply all materials needed for the day.

But if you would like to bring materials (or already have) see below:

Watercolour paper - this should be 140lb weight (300gsm) and in a surface of your choice (Not is the intermediate surface and most popular). A4 size pad, spiral bound is ideal.
Watercolour brushes - If you are trying watercolour painting for the first time it is advisable not to buy expensive sable brushes. Synthetic brushes are much cheaper and easily good enough. A round brush with a good point (size 5 or 6) will do for most techniques.
Watercolour paints - 1 red (alizarin crimson or cadmium red), 1 yellow (cadmium yell0w) and 1 blue (cobalt or ultramarine). Tubes are best. Student quality is fine.

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

Your tutor will advise you on other painting courses.
Adult Learn and Train offer courses through-out the year.
Try similar courses or maybe look at learning something completely new.
You will find provision on some Saturday and Sundays, you will also find courses available in the day and evening at different venues in Cambridge. Courses vary in length from one-off sessions to 10 weeks or more

‹ To overview
Watercolour Painting (May Day School)

Course details

Location

Coleridge Community College, Radegund Road, Cambridge CB1 3RJ

Time

10:00am - 3:30pm

Fees

£59

Booking notes

To book onto this course, please either call the office on 01223 712340 or email office@adultlearning.education

Tutor

Clive Riggs

Clive is a full elected member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art, a professional tutor, painter, printmaker and demonstrator with more than 18 years’ experience.

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