TWO DAY PLEIN AIR
WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP
w/Wyatt Waters

April 2 & 3 • 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
COST: $ 465.00 Members / $480.00 Non-members
Registration for Members Only Feb 2 – 14
(in person or phone only)
Registration for General Public begins Feb. 16
(In person, phone, or online registration)

The focus of Wyatt’s workshop is about learning to see and painting outside en plein air with watercolor. The emphasis is as much on seeing as painting.

Wyatt will speak and demonstrate the problems associated with working on location while providing practical solutions and advice, based on his 40+ years of experience. Wyatt shares his philosophy of life that is intrinsically tied to his painting. The workshop deals with how painting can inform life, as well as the other way around. The emphasis is on getting the attendees in touch with their own seeing. He encourages not just the painting of what is seen, but also their felt expression that can give their own art meaning.

What to expect with plein air painting: Painting en plein air asks you to step outside the comfort of the studio and respond to the world as it truly is — moving, changing, unpredictable, and wonderfully alive. You can expect shifting light, unexpected breezes, curious passersby, and a pace that feels faster than you’d like. It can be challenging. It can even feel overwhelming at first. But that is exactly what makes it so valuable. Working outdoors sharpens your ability to see quickly and clearly. It forces you to simplify, to make decisions with confidence, and to trust your instincts. Instead of getting lost in details, you learn to capture the essence of a scene—its shape, light, and energy—before it slips away. This clarity and decisiveness carry back with you to every painting you do, indoors or out.

The “struggle” is part of the process. Every moment of discomfort—whether it’s the changing shadows, the complexity of nature, or the pressure of limited time—teaches you something essential about painting. Plein air work builds resilience, speed, and a deeper connection to your subject. And when it all comes together, you end up with paintings that feel fresh, immediate, and full of life.

In the end, plein air painting isn’t just about working outside. It’s about learning to trust yourself, becoming more responsive to the world around you, and finding joy in the unexpected. The struggle is worth it because it makes you a stronger, more intuitive artist—and it brings out a vitality in your work that simply can’t be found any other way.

Minimum number of students: 10
Maximum numbers of students: 17

Schedule:
Each day runs approximately 9am to 4pm with a 45-minute lunch break.
The morning session will be an overview of the day’s topic and demonstration painting.
The afternoon session consists of a group paint, applying the morning’s teaching to their own painting and individual instruction, as needed. Each day will end with a group critique of what worked and area of improvement.

Day One: Values and Speed of Painting
Morning Session
Wyatt begins with a demonstration using a watercolor drawing in ivory black on sketch paper. This exercise strengthens value control, speeds up decision-making, and keeps artists connected to the fluid nature of watercolor. He then transitions into a full painting of the subject, showing how to apply the established values directly into color.
Afternoon Session
Participants create their own watercolor drawings and paintings. Wyatt moves through the group, discussing each artist’s work, offering guidance, and answering questions as they paint.
End-of-Day Review
The group gathers to reflect on their work, sharing what went well and identifying areas for improvement.

Day Two: Incorporating People into Your Painting
Morning Session
Wyatt demonstrates how to paint quick studies of groups of people, showing how these figures bring life and movement to a composition. This is followed by a full start-to-finish watercolor demonstration in which he incorporates people sketches into a complete painting.
Afternoon Session
Attendees work on their own people studies and integrate them into their paintings. Wyatt circulates among the group offering individual guidance, then brings everyone together to walk through concepts and techniques as a whole.
End-of-Day Wrap-Up
The group gathers for final Q&A and critique. Wyatt offers feedback and provides suggestions for how participants can continue developing their paintings beyond the workshop.

Rain Day Schedule  – TBD

 Full Materials List