Sarah B. Hansen – Water to Pigment Ratio in Watercolor: Get the Effect You Want (Online Class Recording)

Date recorded: Friday, June 14, 2024
Medium: Watercolor

Join award-winning artist Sarah B. Hansen as she guides you in understanding and effectively using water in watercolor paintings.

Water is the key to all watercolor painting, as it creates the fluidity to allow pigments to flow across painting surfaces. Water is where the magic occurs. Too much water can result in faded, low-value paintings. Too little water can create opaque, unincorporated shapes and dull colors. Water to pigment ratios vary greatly, affecting the outcome of your painting. Understand when to use a dry brush, damp brush, or wet brush. Learn how much water it takes to blend/charge dynamic colors. Get a feel for creating purposeful blooms. Understand how to create an even wash, or a bright painting. Explore reasons for wetting your paper first or painting on dry paper. Work with the magic of watercolor, instead of fighting it. During this session, learn how to get the effect you want, using the correct water to pigment ratio. Demos will be done in watercolor.

Award-winning Northwest Watercolor Society Signature member, artist, and instructor, Sarah B. Hansen has been painting for over 30 years. A self-taught painter, Sarahbegan by painting traditional transparent watercolor on paper, primarily portraits. By recently converting into a landscape artist, Sarahhas found in the combination of her love of nature and gestural paint application, an open door into limitless possibilities of expression. Born and raised in Southwestern Colorado, Sarah moved to Oregon in 1987, working as a commercial and residential designer in Portland. Now, Sarah can be found creating acrylic and watercolor landscapes from her studio in Bend, Oregon. Her collectors range regionally and worldwide, both in residential homes and hospitality facilities, such as Kaiser Permanente, Sunriver Resort, and Cascade Medical Imaging. She teaches workshops both regionally and abroad. Member American Women Artists, NWWS, Pacific Rim Institute of Marine Artists.