4146 - Watercolor Cards: Whimsical Animals

Delivery Options Classroom - In Person

Course Description

IN PERSON: Discover the joy of watercolors as you paint a series of greeting cards featuring whimsical animals: cats, giraffes, dogs, raccoons, birds, fish, and rabbits. Whether or not you have experience, you are welcome in this course. This active, hands-on course offers highly individualized instruction on how to paint in watercolors. We'll begin with directions on how to care for the materials. Every step and technique will be demonstrated, as we work together to complete a series of about 10 greeting cards featuring whimsical animals. Some of the cards include mixed media, which will be provided at no extra cost. | Active Skill Learning.

Max enrollment: 12.

Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham NC 27705

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4146 - 004

Fall 2026

Classroom - In Person

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Watercolor Cards: Whimsical Animals

Classroom - In Person

9:00AM to 12:00PM

Sep 16, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026

Schedule and Location

View Details

15.0

Durham - Judea Reform Congregation

Classroom - In Person

Tuition non-credit

$100.00

Section Notes

Please note: Bring your own materials, or rent them from the instructor for in-class use for $35.

Required supplies/fee:

Students will purchase materials from the instructor and/or independently for a total estimated cost of $350.
Bring your own materials, or rent them from the instructor for in-class use for $35.

• An assortment of brushes (see the list below).
• A palette with a separate lid. (Good watercolor palettes from Jerry’s are Tom Lynch for $20 or Tom Jones for $34; they have 17 wells and a separate lid.)
• A set of three scrubbers (a stiff brush to lift paint), masking fluid, a mask lifter or “pickup” (a 2” tough rubbery square), and a camera.
• An ordinary little sponge, a bit of natural sponge, masking tape, and paper towels.
• An artists’ kneaded eraser (looks like soft, gray putty)
• An ordinary cheap mechanical pencil, a ballpoint pen.
• A water container, a little spray bottle for water
• Graphite paper to transfer a drawing – buy only Sally’s or Saral brand in a roll.
• A black Micron pen in size .01, .03, or .05
• A box of Strathmore Watercolor Greeting Cards (Buy a box of 10 or of 50)

Suggested Colors

These colors are suggestions which will serve for all nearly all paintings. Please purchase professional grade paint such as Winsor Newton (Jerry’s), Lukas 1862, Daniel Smith, M. Graham, Da Vinci, or American Journey. (Student grade paints, e.g. Cotman, Grumbacher, or Reeves are cheap; but the color is transient and less vibrant.) Paints are expensive, but they last indefinitely.

IMPORTANT COLORS:
• Yellow ocher
• yellow (Winsor yellow or cadmium yellow)
• Olive green (a good one is Lucas 1862 at Jerry’s)
• Cobalt turquoise (or any other bright aqua)
• Cobalt blue
• Ultramarine blue
• Burnt umber
• Payne’s gray
• A purple (like Winsor dioxazine violet)
• Alizarin crimson
• Permanent rose
• Winsor red (or another “hot” red like cadmium)
• Schminckie’s translucent orange (order on line) or cadmium orange
• Quinacridone gold or burnt sienna

ALSO NICE IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE: Opera (or bright rose), Shadow green (by Holbein), Sap green, cerulean (blue), Brown Madder, Chinese white.

BRUSHES:

Here you can save money; natural hair brushes are totally unnecessary. Buy a selection of brushes: (Rounds - #2, #6, and #8) and (flats – 1/8”, ¼”, ½”, ¾”, and 1”) and a rigger (or “script”) brush about a size 3 which is long and thin, and a package of 3 scrubbers (brushes with short, tough bristles used to erase paint). Loew Cornell, Creative Mark, or Miller’s Golden Fleece brushes are good.

Jerry’s Artarama (919-876-6610) in person in Raleigh or online and Dick Blick online are good suppliers.

If you have questions, call my cell (252-722-4053) or email (carolefynn@gmail.com)