Workshop Content: Starting a painting with color, texture, pattern, gestural marks and layers may seem like “chaos”, but it delivers vital energy that is both fun and intuitive. Great design and composition are the elements that bring “order” to the rich start and turn your painting into an attention-getting and expressive finish. Applying strong design and compositional skills are a significant focus.

Beginner or advanced, you are encouraged to discover and explore your unique expression and personal imagery in realism, abstraction or non-objective imagery. On day one we create 12 “starts”. of full of color, different materials and unique explorations. Day two we get into the basics of design and composition. Then the intuitive starts are put together with artists planned designs for final developing of at least 3 of those starts from Day 1. Kathleen generously shares her knowledge and experience through printed materials, a class syllabus, lectures, demonstrations, and one-on-one guidance throughout the class.

Supply List: Welcome to my class. I am always excited to meet new artists and SHARE ART! This is
a high-energy few days. I cover a lot of information, and I am sure you don’t want to miss a
thing so,
PLEASE, bring basic supplies you regularly use and ALL the MUST-HAVE items below. The first day is the
messiest and busiest so, please, wear your old painting clothes, disposable gloves and bring
all your materials, below.
MUST-HAVE
• watercolor paper: 12 quarter-sheets, approx. 11”x15” each, of watercolor paper.
I prefer Arches or Kilimanjaro 140# cold press. Paper from “blocks” is fine.
• paints: watercolor in tube or liquid, (not dry pans), any brand, and acrylic paints if you
normally use them.
• acrylic products: 4ozs. Matte Medium (this is clear) AND 4ozs.white gesso (pourable)
• brushes: a variety including one 2” wide brush
• sketchbook and a few sheets of tracing paper
• a few old watercolor paintings to recycle
• misc.: scissors, and white chalk, clear packaging tape, glue stick
• containers: spray bottle and a large container for water, 6- wide mouth containers
with lids
(like 16 oz. cottage cheese containers)
• paper towels, Kleenex or napkins
• applicators and textures: (be creative here): sponge, stamps, stencils, scrapers
(old credit cards, etc.), bubble wrap…you get the idea
• 11×14” cut mat to make “L’s” or “crop bars” (or bring some you already have)
• small stack of newspapers and one old magazine
OPTIONAL BUT WONDERFUL
• reference materials: of imagery IF you want to include it in your paintings (total non-
objective is great)
• a board (slightly larger than your paper) for supporting and weighting paper
• sketches, thoughts for themes or concepts to explore
• Prismacolor felt markers: one 50% grey, one black (for fast value studies)
DON’T FORGET – your enthusiasm and a sense of adventure.
LEAVE AT HOME – preconceptions, self-doubt and fear.

See 3 parts You Tube video of my teaching on my website in the “workshop” gallery.
www.kathleenconover.com
I’ll see you soon. In the meantime, keep those paint brushes wet.

Biography: Master Artist, Kathleen Conover exhibits her work, juries exhibitions, gives demonstrations and teaches in-depth workshops. She has been juried into more than 200 exhibitions, receiving national and international recognition for the vision, innovative techniques, and fearless expression that give rise to her unique designs. Painting with openness to her subject matter, she is guided by intense observation and deep personal reflection. The result is rich symbolic layers of literal and figurative design.

Painting from an early age, Kathleen was influenced by teachers and artists in the fertile environment of Southern California’s prominent artists, museums and galleries as well as early international travels. She studied undergraduate fine arts at San Diego State University, finished her Bachelor of Art degree at the University of Washington in Seattle and earned her Master of Arts degree from Northern Michigan University. Continued study with American master watercolor artists over the next decade enriched her depth, understanding, skill and personal style of painting.

Kathleen Conover’s current involvement in the growing international watercolor scene includes invitations to exhibit, judge and demonstrate in China, Turkey, France, Belgium, Thailand and Greece. She has been honored as one of the 40 international master watercolorists invited to exhibit at the first watercolor-exclusive museum in Qingdao, China, the “Birthplace of Watercolor”. Global travel continues to influence her award-winning paintings and inspires her work toward her lifetime pursuit “…to be a better artist”.

Instructor Website: www.kathleenconover.com