Pattern in The Woods

Artist/Instructor: Jennifer Koury 
$36 members/$46 not-yet members                                               

Charles E. Burchfield’s tree patterns are embedded with a spiritual feeling of a place, inviting the viewer to look into and move through his woods.  He used patterns on trees, shapes on bark, flowers, and bursts of color with cardinals, and all in conjunction with his magical light of the adjoining landscape. 

Participants will find visually inspiring patterns in the bark of tree types, their shapes, and flowers of your choice.  Then paint them using varying brush stroke weights, and varying distances between them on the page.  Vertical tree and flower marks will be contrasted with horizontal flowing patterns and colored shapes in the background. Accentuate patterns with bird shapes in the flowers, trees, and forest.

Bring reference and drawings of flowers and/or trees, and their leaf or bark patterns, and bird shapes. Participants will design and place chosen elements to create vertical, visual patterns.

Jennifer Koury, a watercolorist, delights in both the natural world's play of light and color on forms and watercolor's whimsical properties: color bleeding, reticulation, and natural paint sediments.  Koury has enjoyed a rewarding career as a dedicated painter and freelance illustrator.  She is published in both children's and adult based books. Her work is featured at George Washington's Mount Vernon and Yuma Regional Medical Center, Arizona.  After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in Painting and Printmaking, Koury continued her studies to graduate from Art Center College of Design, California.  A member of the BSA, NFWS, and NFPAP, she resides with her family in Buffalo and is inspired by the natural beauty of Western New York.

Supplies:

Photos and sketches of birds, trees and their bark patterns and flower types/patterns
Watercolors might include: Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Lemon Yellow, Hansa Yellow, New Gamboge Yellow, Sap Green, Serpentine Green, Mineral Violet, Cobalt Violet, Scarlet Red, and Burnt Sienna
Watercolor palette
Brushes:  For the background elements, please bring the largest flats you have, including a 2" and 1 1/2"- if you have them, 1 “ flat, #4  and #8 round and/or a quill brush
Scissors, tape and tissue/tracing paper to move elements of the composition around, and if you wish, bring some tissue drawings of elements drawn prior to class to work with.
Arches 100% Cotton/Rag Watercolor Paper- 140 lb cold press, 15 x 11, 15 x 22 or 22 x 30- your choice
Toothbrush and inexpensive brush for applying masking fluid
Art Masking Fluid and/or a "Fineline Masking Fluid Pen- Standard Tip”
Pencils, eraser, spray bottle, and mounting board
Light table if you would like to transfer drawn elements, which you have compositionally arranged, to the painting surface

Download the registration form.

For further information go to the International Center For Watercolor or contact Kathy G. Shiroki at shirokkg@buffalostate.edu, 716.878.3549.