Description
Though we live in one of the greenest states, painters often struggle to use greens effectively. We can find them too garish or too muddy. Maybe we overdo the greens and ignore other colors—maybe we avoid them altogether. From mixing to developing effective color schemes, this course provides a deep dive into the many moods of green. Sitka’s landscape provides inspiration from fog to ferns, water weeds to stately evergreens. Using watercolor and high flow acrylic, artists will explore possible color ranges and intensities within a set of mixing hues as well as ways to create moods from subtle to vibrant. Suitable for painters working in both realism and abstraction.
About the Instructor
Ruth Armitage is an award-winning Oregon painter with over 25 years teaching experience. Her work ranges from plein air to abstraction and she is fluent in watercolor, acrylic and oil. Inclusion in numerous national publications and exhibitions has led to wide-spread recognition for Ruth. You may have seen her work profiled on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s “Oregon Art Beat.” Most recently Watercolor Magazine ran an 8-page feature article in their Spring 2024 issue.
You can find Ruth’s work in Portland at Waterstone Gallery and the Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery, and Earthworks Gallery in Yachats, OR. She is a gifted instructor and has juried national, local and state exhibitions. Ruth enjoys sharing the creative process in the classroom and watching lightbulbs come on in her students’ eyes. Read their comments about Ruth’s classes on her ‘Workshops’ page. Ruth lives and works in West Linn, Oregon.
Learn More
rutharmitage.com
Materials List
You will need to bring:
Below are supplies that Ruth prefers, but participants are welcome to bring any materials they normally work with. Ruth finds that professional-quality supplies generally yield the best results, but participants should avoid bringing student-grade paper.
General Studio Supplies
Large (at least Cool Whip size) water container
Cotton rag for blotting brushes (old diapers work well)
Paper towels, tissues
Small spray bottle for water
Artist’s tape, pencil, eraser, gatorboard or drawing board for supporting paper, bulldog clips
Sketchbook – Ruth likes a mixed media surface that accepts watercolor well (Stillman & Birn Beta or Zeta series are good, but participants can bring whatever they have).
Paper
Participants should bring the paper they normally use and like, as long as it is not student-grade. Ruth prefers cold-pressed Arches 140 lb, but she also sometimes works on Fabriano Artistico 300 lb Soft Press. At least one sheet of watercolor paper per day is required, in any size participants are comfortable with.
Brushes
Ruth uses an assortment of round and flat synthetic watercolor-type brushes, plus a bristle brush. One of her favorites is the 1” Skipper brush, available from Cheap Joe’s catalog (1-800-227-2788).
Paints
Titanium White High Flow Acrylic by Golden
Watercolors in a Palette – A basic palette should include a Warm & Cool Red, Yellow & Blue, plus Black, White, and a few specialty pigments and earth tones. Participants can add any premixed greens or other colors they love or have on hand. Ruth’s favorites are:
- Red: Cadmium Red & Alizarin Crimson and/or Quinacridone Red
- Yellow: Indian Yellow or Aureolin and Cadmium Lemon or Winsor Lemon
- Blue: Cobalt Blue or Ultramarine and Windsor Blue; possibly add an opaque like Cerulean Blue or Cobalt Turquoise
- Earth: Quinacridone Gold, Raw Sienna, Raw Umber, Lunar Black (Daniel Smith), and Designer’s White Gouache by Winsor & Newton
- Specialty or Convenience: Green Gold (Holbein), Cascade Green (Daniel Smith), Cobalt Violet Light (Holbein), Quinacridone Violet, Cadmium Orange, Brown Madder Quinacridone, Phthalo Green, Jaune Brilliant #1 (Holbein), Skip’s Green (American Journey), Compose Green (Holbein)
Additional Items
Ruth recommends that participants bring a few photos to work from. Simpler images are better! The class will focus on a more abstract approach, with an emphasis on color, so participants should select a subject that resonates with them emotionally and personally. She also requests that participants bring examples of artists who use green effectively for inspiration and analysis.