FEBRUARY 2021 WORKSHOP
February 2021 Workshop with Brian McPhee
Painting Buildings with Value, Colour and Composition
This challenging workshop was taken on with tenacity and courage by every student. Brian taught and demonstrated a simple, direct and fast approach to watercolour painting. The subject matter for the workshop was turn-of-the-century rambling brick character homes in Hamilton Ontario.
Brian’s teachings focus on value, colour and movement. The demonstrations were done on full sheets of 140 pound Arches on an easel vertically. Students were encouraged to trust their eyes, look for the abstract shapes, values and colours and get it down on paper in one or two shots with little overpainting. This approach requires bravery, practice and a good supply of paint and paper – but it can be very rewarding – especially if your painting time is limited.
Brian showed how value is foundational and how “movement” or directional brush strokes creates a flow throughout the painting. Some students used their own photo references of favourite building while others used the reference photos provided. Check out some of the excellent work of the TWS students courageous enough to share their work. You can see Brian McPhee’s work (acrylic and watercolour) at: www.13brokenhorses.com or on Instagram @13brokenhorses.
Brian McPhee: Demo
Beth Parker
Doreen Potter
Ghazelah Nadarian
Jen Nolan
