This Time with Water-Soluble Colored Pencils

4/7/17 water-soluble colored pencil, 98 lb. mixed media paper

As my colored pencil class was ending at Gage, I asked instructor Suzanne Brooker if she ever offered a class in the use of watercolor pencils (which I still find to be more practical in the field than traditional colored pencils ever could be, based on what I learned during winter quarter). Although she had taught it previously, she did not have plans to teach it again. However, I persisted in pestering her, and then a few other students also expressed interest when they heard me pestering. The result was that Suzanne offered us a four-week private class in water-soluble colored pencil in her own studio! (I live my life by the rule that it never hurts to ask – or even pester – because the worst that can happen is I get the answer no. But sometimes I get the answer yes! 😊)

Four of us accepted her generous offer, and we began our four sessions last week. As before, we are working from photo references. I’m already learning things I never understood when simply messing around with water-soluble pencils (as all of my experience so far has been). Last week’s assignment is shown here – trees and foliage. I’ll have more to say about the specific techniques we’re learning after I finish this week’s exercise.