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• "The Architecture of Light" with Thomas Schaller

  • Start
    Wednesday, August 06, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    Friday, August 08, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260
  • Spaces left
    0

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  "The Architecture of Light" Watercolor Workshop with Artist Thomas Schaller, AWS, NWS, TWSA. Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. August 6-8, 2025. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Break for lunch. 3-day Workshop Price: $465 for WSI Members. $525 for Non-Members. Skill Level Required:  Intermediate to Advanced.

    

  Day-to-Day Class Outline:

  Daily, I will introduce a topic and complete a demonstration painting to open each day of the class. And we will build on what we have learned each day 

  Day One:  The Built Environment vs. The Natural World.
  The focus will the built environment in the context of the natural world. So we will emphasize design, composition, values, color theory the use of perspective, and the editing of unnecessary detail.

  Day Two: The Natural World vs. The Built Environment

  The emphasis this day will be elements of landscape, and atmosphere. We’ll build on the lessons of Day One and introduce ways to paint trees, skies, water, reflections, and pure atmosphere.

  Day Three: Looking vs Seeing
  Building on the practical lessons of Days One and Two, we will move into the areas, of interpretation and observation. We’ll look at ways of channeling our unique perceptions of the world into a clear and personal artistic point of view.  By incorporating elements of dreams, memories, and pure invention into the act of strict real-world observation, we can watch as our artistic voices make themselves known.

  Each day will begin with my introducing a topic and then producing a painted demonstration based upon that topic.  Participants may certainly paint what it is I paint, but I encourage everyone to bring their own photo reference – something that resonated with them more personally.

  Among the topics to be introduced:

  + Intent / Inspiration

  +Composition / Design

  +Value Design – Establishing Depth by using Three Basic Values

  +Painting with Light – Negative Shape Painting 

  +Perspective Construction

  +Color Theory – Working with Complements

  +The Man-Made Environment / The Natural Environment

  +Architecture – How to Simplify the Paintings of the Built Environment

  +Atmospheres – Skies / Water / Reflections / Landscape Elements

  +The Human Figure 

  +How to Know when You are Finished 

   
  

  Materials

  I’ve listed in detail all I will be using throughout the course. But no one should feel that I recommend acquiring all these specific materials. You should feel free to use whatever supplies make your painting experience the most comfortable and enjoyable. In general, it’s a good idea to bring fewer rather than more things. This list is for reference only. 

  While I am a Brand Ambassador for the following companies, I have no exclusivity arrangements and do not discourage anyone from using alternatives:

  Daniel Smith Artists Materials / Escoda Brushes / NEEF – Watercolor Brushes / Baohong :Masters Choice Watercolor Paper / House of Hoffman: Hand-Crafted Artists’ Palettes / Stillman & Birn - Sketchbooks 

  + Sketch Pencil:  Any with a soft lead – and a soft white vinyl or kneaded eraser. I use Blackwing Palomino and Faber Castell E-Motion sketch pencils and MONO by Tombow Erasers. 

  + Sketchbook:  I use Beta Series hard and softbound books by Stillman&Birn 

  + Watercolor Paper:   Good quality cotton surface – I recommend Baohong Masters Choice, Saunders Waterford, Fabriano Artistico, or Arches 140 lb. (300gsm). I always use the rough surface choice.

  + Easel:  For studio work, I use a simple adjusted slant-board style table top easel by Reeves. I affix my watercolor paper to light weight boards (masonite, thin plywood veneer, corrugated pvc, etc) with simple Scotch brand masking tape

  +Watercolor Palette:  Use any type with which you are most comfortable, but it must allow for at least three good-sized mixing wells and perhaps 10 to 14 paint wells. I use the large German Silver Palette by House of Hoffman and a smaller travel palette by House of Hoffman.  Another option is a folding aluminum model by Holbein. 

  + Pigments:   I always use tube-based pigments chosen for their quality, transparency, and light-fastness. I favor natural over dye-based colors. Primarily I use Daniel Smith and Holbein. My current palette is: Daniel Smith:  French Ochre / Perm. Orange / Cad Red Light (or Mayan Orange)/ Van Dyke Brown / Alizarin Crimson / Burnt Sienna Light/ Burnt Sienna / Serpentine Green / Jadeite Green / Cobalt Teal Blue / Manganese Blue Hue / Cobalt Blue / French Ultramarine / Imperial Purple / Neutral Tint – Plus:  Lavender / Naples Yellow / Light Red by Holbein

  It’s not necessary to own each of these pigments, but I’d recommend basic primaries and complements – Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna are staples.

  + Brushes:  I use a number of mops (NEEF118 Series, Escoda Aquario Series, Raphael Soft Aqua Series ) and several rounds (Escoda Perla and Versatil Series) Escoda  Flats (Versatil and Perla Series). I also use a couple of liner brushes by DaVinci (Caseneo Series) and a few hake style flat brushes by Paul Rubens and Black Mice. 

  +  Misc:, I use Scotch brand masking tape, a small Holbein water mister (essential), simple water containers, and paper towels.

   
  

  Bio 2025. Thomas Wells Schaller, AWS NWS TWSA IMWA CAC CWA SCNY SDWS ASAI AIA. Thomas Schaller is an acclaimed artist, architect, and author based in New York City. Learn more at: https://www.thomasschaller.com/

  *Workshops do not include supplies. Each instructor will send their supply list to students. *There is a 5% cancellation fee when cancelling before the 2-week deadline. *No refunds within 2 weeks of the workshop start date. If you are not able to attend, you may send someone in your place. Thank you! 

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• Beginning Watercolor Class with Anna Roberts and Cheryle Lowe

  • When
    Sunday, September 21, 2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    Jewish Community Center, 6701 Hoover Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46260
  • Spaces left
    15

  Register

  "Beginning Watercolor Class" with Anna Roberts, CF and Cheryle Lowe, CF at the Jewish Community Center Indy, 6701 Hoover Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46260. Sunday, Sept. 21 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Adult class only. $40 for the class. Supplies not included, see below. 

  This class will cover the basics of watercolor painting while working on a special project. Learn about watercolor paints, brushes, paper, palettes, other tools used in watercolor, and techniques of application. Concentration on how to control the paint, how to mix the paint, and how to apply the paint. You do not need to be a member of The Watercolor Society to attend! 

  

  Supply List for this workshop:

  ·        2 full sheets of 140 lb. paper (22 x 30) cut into halves (Arches, Fabriano, Saunders, Bockingford, Stonehenge, Canson Moulin.)  Paper quality is the single most important part of successful watercolor results.

  ·        Watercolor paint in tubes (no pan cakes please): reds, yellows, blues, greens (preferably brands such as Winsor Newton, Daniel Smith, Sennelier, Schminke, Graham, Holbein, or Qor.  

  ·        Brushes - rounds with good points, sizes 2,4, 6 and a mop brush, flat brush, or bigger brush for washes (synthetics are fine, just no plastic fiber brushes). Anything that you already have and like.

  ·        Palette - something that has some wells and flat areas for mixing.

  ·        Painting board - something like a piece of thin masonite, sheet of plastic, drawing board, etc. that is slightly bigger than your half sheet of paper.

  ·        Two water jars.

  ·        Pencil, ruler, and a pair of scissors.

  ·        Jar of masking fluid (rubber cement can be used if you don't want the expense of masking fluid and don't think you will ever use it again).

  ·        Roll of masking tape.

   

  Meet your instructors! Anna Roberts is a Cardinal Fellow of The Watercolor Society which is the highest earned achievement with WSI. Anna won "Best of Show" in the 2022 WSI Juried Exhibit. Cheryle Lowe is also a Cardinal Fellow of The Watercolor Society of Indiana and won "Best of Show" in the 2024 WSI Juried Exhibit She will assist Anna in bringing you a fun day of learning. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from two of the best!

  
  

  *Workshops do not include supplies. Each instructor will send their supply list to students. *There is a 5% cancellation fee when cancelling before the 2-week deadline. *No refunds within 2 weeks of the workshop start date. If you are not able to attend, you may send someone in your place. Thank you! 

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• "Painting a Figure from a Photo" with Ted Nuttall

  • Start
    Tuesday, October 14, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    Friday, October 17, 2025
  •  
    4:00 PM
  • Location
    Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260
  • Spaces left
    10

  Register

  "Painting a Figure from a Photo" Watercolor Workshop with Artist Ted Nuttall, AWS, NWS, TWSA. Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, IN 46260. October 14-17, 2025. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Break for lunch. 4-day Workshop Price: $525 for WSI Members. $585 for Non-Members. Skill Level Required: Intermediate to Advanced.

  Painting the Figure from Photographs

  My passion is painting people. I paint from photographs. In the demonstration portion of my workshops, I discuss anatomy, expression, emotion, light, color, composition – and the benefits of working from a photographic reference. Naturally, I employ my experience as a watercolorist in my instruction.

  More important though is my intent to cultivate, in each workshop participant, an awakening to how and what an artist might be thinking as they approach a painting. My desire is for each class member to discover enriched thinking and seeing skills that can translate to any medium or subject. And, I believe ardently that these lessons apply, regardless of the skill level of the student.

  Through a balance of demonstration, presentation, and one-on-one instruction, I share my philosophical approach – plus I introduce other artists’ work for the purpose of exploring what they may have been thinking in their use of color, composition and light.

  My goal is to provide, in an atmosphere that’s both creative and supportive, an enjoyable hands-on learning experience – and to facilitate a heightened awareness that each participant can use in his or her work, and in their daily lives.

  Click here to download Workshop Preparation Documents.

  

  Ted Nuttall is a figurative artist whose painting expression was born out of his observation of people. Ted is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, San Diego Watercolor Society and enjoys Master Signature Status with both the Transparent Watercolor Society of America and Watercolor West. Learn more at: https://www.tednuttall.com/

  *Workshops do not include supplies. Each instructor will send their supply list to students. *There is a 5% cancellation fee when canceling before the 2-week deadline. *No refunds within 2 weeks of the workshop start date. If you are not able to attend, you may send someone in your place. Thank you! 

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