A Watercolor Journey with Timothy Kitz

Join urban sketcher and watercolorist Timothy Kitz in a six session immersive watercolor course, open to all levels. Tim will share tips about both medium and technique while going through weekly exercises to hone your vision, perspective and brush skills. The gorgeous views framed by our picture windows overlooking the ocean will provide ongoing inspiration. Exterior and interior scenes and lighting will be addressed, and basic materials are available for sharing, but if you have your own brushes, palettes, and nontoxic color feel free to bring.

Classes will feature in-depth watercolor instruction with an emphasis on conveying an appreciation for the medium; its artistic legacy, its fluidity, spontaneity and simplicity of form and the complexities of proper application.

The curriculum will cover:

Medium and Materials - Watercolor paint, palette, brushes and paper used and the importance of building a working process that is ergonomic and efficient.

Composition - The fundamentals of composing a pleasing picture: compositional forms, vanishing point fundamentals, the Rule of Thirds etc.

Drawing - The importance of learning to accurately render the scene or image for placement in the painting; architectural perspective, rendering styles, the human form, the discipline of regular sketching and visual journaling.

Brush Work - The application of paint to the paper in watercolor. A thorough explanation of brush types and sizes, their appropriate use, effects and the subtleties of individual calligraphy.

Color Theory - An explanation of the Color Wheel, the importance of Values, The layout and use of the Palette. The Visual Watercolor Vocabulary.

En plein air - Students will have multiple opportunities in the relaxed and picturesque environment of the Palisade to paint an outdoor scene.

All day parking at the Civic Auditorium lot on Main a few blocks south - $5. Shorter term parking is around the corner at Structure 6 on 2nd, $4 for 3.5 hours.

Beginners who enroll can use our brand new watercolor workstations, courtesy of Blick Art Materials. Even if you have no watercolor equipment you can take part in this class!

Blick Art Materials is a proud supporter of the Camera Obscura Art Lab. Click this link for additional in-store savings!

The Camera Obscura Art Lab offers arts, crafts and culture classes year-round. Polish your writing, take a better picture, learn how to make paper, knit, sew, and find a community of artists and movers!

View and Register for classes at http://ow.ly/IehoU
Visit us at http://www.smgov.net/1450ocean & 1450 Ocean Ave
Contact communityclasses@smgov.net or 310-458-2239
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Parking and Transport: Parking is $1 for first 2.5 hours in Parking Structure 6 (2nd between Broadway and Santa Monica), each 30 min. thereafter $1.50, max $14. All-day parking $5 at the Civic Auditorium, 333 Civic Center Dr, or close by at 120 Broadway, flat $5 after 4pm and weekends. Meters on Ocean Avenue; $2/hr maximum 2 hours, free after 6pm. More info: parkme.com/santa-monica-parking. Buses that serve 1450 Ocean include Routes 1, 2, 8 and Rapid 10. Visit bigbluebus.com for more information. Carpooling and biking to class is always encouraged; Breeze Bike Share parking just down the street.

Registration (bring cash to cover material fees) In Person: Advance registration accepted at 1450 Ocean between 9am-5pm M-F & 11am-4pm Sat. Dropping in? Call 310-458-2239 to confirm availability, preferably by the Tuesday before class starts; plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of class; many classes do not allow drop ins.

Refunds/Transfers: Full refunds are given if class is cancelled before taking place - enroll online with confidence. For student withdrawals for any other reason, $15 processing fee for each multisession activity refunded; one-time classes & expended material fees are nonrefundable. Requests must be made in person, by mail, fax (310-899-0840), or email to communityclasses@smgov.net within 24 hours of first class meeting. All class dates, times, locations, and instructors are subject to change.