Painting Master Studies in Gouache
Fall Class | Available
Improve your drawing and painting skills by painting studies of passages from master paintings, using the fun and versatile medium of gouache. Copying master techniques provides a level of understanding beyond simply looking. Study their brush work, color choices and value relationships —keys to successful painting — and learn to apply them to your own work. The textures of foliage, the sheen of water, cloud shapes, architectural forms, atmosphere, shadows and light effects — the masters had painting figured out. Using a simplified palette and basic materials, we can reverse engineer their process and improve our own skills. Let the troubles of the world go away and spend relaxed afternoons in a fun and friendly atmosphere with your fellow artistic adventurers.
SCHEDULE NOTES:
This is a short class that meets 6 times on Wednesdays from 10/28/2026 to 12/2/2026.
- Students should purchase/bring the following supplies to class:
Professional grade gouache paint (Winsor & Newton, Holbein and M. Graham are a few good brands, NOT Himi or “acrylic gouache”),
Colors:
Ultramarine Blue,
Cadmium Yellow Pale or Light (not “Hue”),
Perelyne Maroon (W&N) or Alizarin Crimson ("Hue is OK)
Winsor Red (W&N), or Pyrrol Red (M. Graham) or Pure Red (Holbein),
Burnt Sienna,
Permanent White (you may want a large tube of white)
Short handled synthetic brushes labeled for mixed media or acrylic
1/2 inch flat wash (or shader)
1/4 inch flat wash (or #6 or #8 flat shader) - ideally, 2 of these
#4 or #6 round
1/2” angle
Small stiff fan (1 inch or similar)
Heavy (140lb / 300gsm) watercolor or mixed media paper — hot press, vellum or cold press surface, 9x12” or 8x10”
Watercolor palette with a reasonably generous mixing area, or “Masterson Sta-Wet Handy Palette”
Spray Mister bottle, for keeping palette wet
Water container - cup or jar
Charley Parker
Charley Parker studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. For the past several years he has been teaching at the Delaware Art Museum, the Delaware College of Art and Design and Jester Artspace. Charley works in and teaches workshops and classes in gouache, water mixable oil and ink and watercolor. Charley is the author of the popular arts blog, Lines and Colors: http://linesandcolors.com
Website: http://www.charleyparker.com