Monochromatic Mountains with Claire Giordano

Join Washington artist Claire Giordano for a unique two hour workshop exploring the magic of watercolor as we paint Mount Rainier (Tahoma) with a single color of paint.

In this step-by-step lesson, Claire will walk us through the painting from our sketch to the final layers of paint. Whether we are practicing techniques or watching our watercolors make incredible (and unpredictable!) patterns on the page, Claire’s classes are a creative space to have fun and explore the beautiful possibilities of watercolor.

Watercolor is often taught as a complex and tedious medium, but over the last ten years of creating outdoors Claire learned to paint and teach watercolor in a way that is accessible and joyful.

Here’s some of the techniques we will explore with Claire during the class:

• Creating atmospheric skies
• Claire’s go-to techniques for painting snow and rock
• Simplifying a scene through a sketch
• How to create a feeling of depth in a landscape and understanding value
• How to paint trees!

This class is for painters of all levels. Claire will answer questions throughout class, and then after the 2 hour workshop she will stay online for an optional Q&A session.

Suggested materials:

Here is a list of the basic materials needed, and you are welcome to email Claire with questions (claire@adventureartacademy.com)

• Watercolor paint - in this class we will use a single dark colored pigment. Dark blues, grays, and blacks work the best.
• Watercolor Brushes: A round brush with a fine tip. Claire likes a #10 round made by Grumbacher, but most synthetic brushes made for watercolor will work similarly. Some folks might enjoy having a smaller brush and a larger round or flat brush for washes.
• Pencil and eraser
• Watercolor Paper: any paper made “for watermedia” will work. For this class Claire will be creating a painting that is 8x10 inches in size (you can work smaller or larger!) on Arches cold press paper. It is also nice to have scratch paper for the techniques practice session (the Canson XL watercolor paper is a really affordable practice paper).
• Cup for water
• Paper towel or rag: to wipe and dry the paint brushes on
• Optional- Hairdryer

About Claire Giordano

Claire Giordano is an environmental artist, writer, and educator creatively exploring the interwoven patterns of people, place, and climate change. In her interdisciplinary work Claire strives to create visual and virtual spaces that foster connections between individuals and our warming world. Claire is also the founder of the Adventure Art Academy, where she teaches immersive virtual art classes filmed on her hiking adventures. Whether she is painting in the wilderness or teaching online, Claire invites you into the painting process and shares the joy of exploring our world with watercolor.

Follow Claire: Website + Adventure Art Academy + Instagram 

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**These classes are intended to be live and interactive. If you can't make the class, please email hello@creativefuelcollective.com. For a full refund, please cancel at least 48 hours in advance.