Nicole’s art adventure started in 2009 in the USA when she signed up for her first watercolour class. She was immediately hooked and very quickly became a passionate plein air painter with a focus on watercolour journalling. Further study in the USA and New Zealand had a strong focus on drawing and watercolour painting.

Since 2017 Nicole has been teaching art classes in her studio and outdoors. She was part of the community education program of Waimea College.

In her community she has been organising a weekly plein air painting group since 2018. Nicole is currently a member of the Mapua Art Group, Watercolour New Zealand, The New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts and The Art Group Nelson. She is an award winning artist with her paintings permanently on display at Wall to Wall Art Gallery Nelson.

Watercolour and oils are Nicole’s favourite media and plein air painting is still her passion.

www.nicolerussellart.com

Course outline

This workshop will focus on important parts of painting beautiful landscapes with watercolours. Each day will cover different aspects. We will slowly ease into the subject by understanding the medium, practising various watercolour techniques and practising the

different stages of landscape painting. Next we will discuss atmospheric perspective before going into guidelines on how to paint trees, grasses and skies. You will learn tips and tricks on

painting buildings (linear perspective) as well as people and animals, i.e. sheep, cows and chickens. Plein air painting (painting on location, outdoors) is a fun part of the curriculum, however weather dependent. Finally we will look at painting water and waves. And of course you will explore composition and colour mixing. 

Each day will start with exercises which will be demonstrated before you go into your own practice. In the afternoon you can choose your own subject and work on it with tutored guidance.

This is a social class where having fun, meeting like-minded people and developing friendships is an important part. Nicole is known for her friendly and supportive teaching style which encourages her students to reach the next level.

This workshop is suitable for all levels.

The following daily curriculum is a basic outline.

Day 1

Introduction

Materials

Watercolour techniques

How to build up a beautiful landscape painting - planning your washes

Atmospheric perspective

Day 2

Colour mixing

Painting beautiful skies

Value studies

Composition

Day 3

Plein air painting

What colour is green?

Trees

Grasses

Day 4

Linear perspective

Water (Ocean, river, lake)

Reflections

Rocks

Day 5

People and animals

Sheep, cows, chickens