David Daniels
www.MrWatercolor.com
June 15 – 21, 2008
Watercolor
Intermediate/Advanced
Studio Class

David Daniels is the watercolor instructor for the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, DC and teaches workshops throughout the world. David’s former training as a botanist and biologist are always evident in his work and he enjoys showing the beauty of nature in new and refreshing ways. He firmly believes that here is no trite subject matter, only trite painting.

His interactive approach and humor are often recognized as his strongest teaching tools. The heart of the artist and the spirit of the medium are the two most important components of his teaching. Students are introduced to methods of using multiple glazes over wet into wet passages to achieve an unsurpassed brilliance as well as the use of masking agents to achieve a jewel-like batik effect.

The spontaneity of watercolor should not lead to weak painting because of a lack of planning. David shows how to carefully construct a watercolor using preliminary sketches on tracing paper that eventually get transferred to the watercolor paper. Students work with sketches, photographs and other source material. This process allows for stronger compositions and therefore stronger paintings. Planning does not destroy spontaneity, it allows for opportunity.