Classes
Tuesdays, January 14 – February 11, 2025 (5 weeks)
10:00 – 11:15 AM PST / 1:00 – 2:15 PM EST
Cost: $75
Recordings only option: $40
This class was created from my personal desire to make color charts, re-learn my paints, and stay connected to my students while wintering in New York City. Each week we will meet on Zoom and create color charts from the paints we have and the possibilities they present. Learn to see color, mix color, and understand what your paints can do. I will provide weekly inspiration and guidance using reference photos that I take during my visits to NYC museums. At the end of the series, students will have a collection of color charts to reference for future paintings. Students may also choose to use each week’s color chart and its reference photo to create a painting of their own between class meetups. Contact Elizabeth via email to register or ask any questions. Click here to email Elizabeth.
View the supply list here: Color Connections Supply List
Classes
Supplies and prep for my January 2025 Color Connections class
You can work in a sketchbook or watercolor pad, or on loose sheets of paper, but high quality cotton watercolor paper such as Arches will give you the best results. Strathmore is not high quality but will be ok. You will need to pencil in the guidelines for your charts before we meet in class. I will send you directions on how to do this once you register for class.
Bring all of your watercolor paints that are high-quality tube watercolors, such as Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton, M. Graham, Holbein. Have at least two of each of the primary colors of blue, red and yellow. My suggestions are those colors in the Daniel Smith Essentials 6-color set: Hansa Yellow, New Gamboge, Quinacridone Rose, Pyrrol Scarlet, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue. Please also purchase a tube of Phthalo Green (blue shade). My working palette is mostly primary colors, but I also use Quinacridone Gold, Phthalo Green, Burnt Sienna, Jane’s Grey (by Daniel Smith) and Buff Titanium. You do not need to own these colors to take the class, but feel welcome to buy one or two of them if you are curious to try something new. Jane’s Grey is slightly different than Payne’s Grey…either will work for class. Search the Daniel Smith website and you will find an article about Jane’s Grey. And an economical way to try out new paints is to buy half-pans of Daniel Smith watercolors from Blick or other retailers.
Size 8 round brush
An OmniGrid Quilter’s Grid is very helpful for penciling in your grids. You may also use a ruler.
Questions about supplies? Email Elizabeth here.
Classes
Fall Session: October 8 – November 12 (6 weeks) Tuesday mornings on Zoom
10:00 – 11:15 AM PST
Cost: $75
Recordings only option: $40
Simplicity, observation and creativity come together in this series of weekly drawing and painting classes inspired by nature. Experience the healing properties of nature and art by following Elizabeth’s gentle guidance as we explore various drawing and painting exercises that are relaxing, fun and meditative. Set judgment and expectations aside as you nourish your well-being in your own personal nature sketchbook. Grow a garden in your journal experience joy in the process!
Classes will include:
- Interactive conversation about plant symbolism and meaning (sharing is optional)
- A variety of simple drawing techniques that anyone can master
- Basic watercolor instruction with an emphasis on simplicity and using the materials you are most comfortable with.
All sessions are recorded and sent to students each week for viewing or reviewing on your own schedule.
Suggested supplies: A sketchbook or spiral-bound pad of drawing or mixed-media paper. Drawing pens with permanent ink, such as Micron Pigma pens or Faber-Castel Pitt pens. Pencil and eraser. Ruler. Watercolors of any type…small travel sets are fine. A detailed supply list is available here.
Contact Elizabeth at e.m.higgins@comcast.net to register.
Classes
Suggested supplies for my Nature Drawing & Watercolor classes.
A sketchbook or spiral-bound pad of drawing or mixed-media paper. My favorite is the Canson Mix Media 98 lb sketchbook measuring 9 x 12 inches (above). I also like the Canson Drawing Pad of 24 sheets of 80 lb paper (shown below). The tablet below has thinner paper that still holds watercolor, but it will wrinkle more than the Mix Media sketchbook.
Drawing pens with permanent ink, such as Micron Pigma pens or Faber-Castel Pitt pens. For the Microns, I like using 03, 05 and 08 wide tips. Faber-Castel uses S, M, and L to designate their pen tips. I also sometimes like using a water-soluble Paper-Mate Flair felt-tip marker in black. I will demo this in a class, but you don’t need to have it.
Pencil and a large eraser. I use a regular #2 wooden pencil, and a large Mars plastic eraser made by Staedtler.
Ruler of any kind…you’ll use it to make straight lines.
Watercolors of any type…small travel sets are fine. Bring whatever you own, or invest in a small set of pan watercolors, such as the Winsor & Newton travel watercolor set.
Classes
Half-day nature journaling experience at the Banks-Vernonia State Trail
Sunday, August 25, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Join me in Buxton, Oregon 30 minutes west of Portland to connect to nearby nature and other people who love to be outside and create in a nature journal. This half-day nature journaling experience will take place at the Buxton Trailhead of the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, and features a beautiful wooden railroad trestle, wildflowers, sunny meadows, and a pond and stream that connect to the Tualatin River watershed. The day will begin with a 30-40 minute gentle hike that will familiarize ourselves with the space, followed by gathering at the picnic shelter for an early packed lunch, and an introduction to the watershed and wildflowers of the area. Following prompts and guidance from Elizabeth, we will work together in our journals independently and together to capture the beauty of this space. As part of our nature connection experience, we will collect water from the nearby stream to use with our watercolors.
Cost: $50.00
What to bring:
Your nature journal or sketchbook and your favorite journaling supplies…pens, pencils, small watercolor sets, watercolor pencils, etc.
A packed lunch and bottled water for drinking
A small towel, blanket or camp chair for sitting (there are also picnic tables and benches)
A sun hat and sunscreen for sunny spots
Wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes
Register by emailing Elizabeth here: e.m.higgins@comcast.net
Classes
Fridays in September
September 6, 13, 20, 27
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Hoyt Arboretum is home to a global collection of over 2,200 species of trees from all around the world. Join me on the trails each week to visit many of these species as you explore their unique textures and colors. Close examination of bark, cones, seeds, fruit and leaves will bring new and exciting challenges to your art practice each week. Bring your love of learning and creativity; no previous nature drawing experience is required.
Registration is now open on Hoyt Arboretum’s website
Click here to register at Hoyt Arboretum
