Painting Waterscapes for Beginners: Light, Movement & Mood
Adult Class | Registration opens 8/4/2026 9:00 AM MDT
This painting class focuses on capturing the beauty, movement, and emotional depth of water. Students will explore oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastal scenes while learning how to paint reflections, waves, skies, and atmospheric depth. Through guided demonstrations and individual feedback, students will develop both technical skills and personal expression in their waterscape paintings.
The class emphasizes seeing water not just as a subject, but as a carrier of mood, light, and memory.
- This class is best suited for beginner students with a basic familiarity with oil or soft pastel painting.
- Oil Paint – Paint
- Oil paint (artist grade), preferred brands:
- Rembrandt – https://www.royaltalens.com
- Michael Harding – https://www.michaelharding.co.uk
- Winsor & Newton – https://www.winsornewton.com
- Ultramarine Blue
- Viridian Green
- Alizarin Crimson
- Cadmium Red
- Cadmium Yellow
- Cadmium Yellow Light
- Cadmium Yellow Deep
- Yellow Ochre
- Transparent Red Oxide
- Transparent Brown Oxide
- Titanium White (Rembrandt Titanium White strongly recommended)
- Oil Paint – Medium
- Odorless mineral spirits for oil painting (Gamsol) – https://gamblincolors.com
- No-spill container to hold mineral spirits
- Linseed oil
- Brushes for Oil Painting
- Flat brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6, and 18)
- Filbert brushes (sizes 4 and 6)
- Princeton Aspen brushes (good beginner option) – https://princetonbrush.com
- Other Oil Painting Supplies
- Paper towels (Scott Shop Towels) – https://www.scottbrand.com
- Painting Surface
- Gessoed panel boards (Jack Richeson hardwood panels) – https://www.jackricheson.com
- Or any canvas board
- Sizes: 9 × 12 inches or 11 × 14 inches
- Soft Pastel Supplies
- Soft pastel color set, medium size (Sennelier preferred) – https://www.sennelier-colors.com
- Any professional-quality brand is acceptable
- Sanded pastel paper (UART recommended) – https://www.uartpastelpaper.com
- Paper sizes: 9 × 12 inches or 11 × 14 inches