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Watercolor Birds and Branches

Date: Saturday, May 13
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
Registration Deadline: May 12
Spring is here, and so are the birds! So celebrate spring’s great return with your paintbrush. As we discuss birds returning to our backyards, we’ll look at artist and ornithologist John James Audubon’s great works — depicting birds in their natural habitat.
Learn techniques for breaking down complicated subject matter into basic hand-drawn shapes to achieve a pleasing composition and painterly techniques for blocking in and layering color. Observe an artist’s demonstration for mixing a watercolor palette with confidence, then take what you’ve learned and apply it to your work of art. Participants are encouraged to bring their photos of birds on branches from which to work.
Dani Knoph Davis is a wildlife artist based in northern Michigan. Her growing collection of watercolor and pen & ink illustrations includes trout, turtles, butterflies, birds, and fish. Dani received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Michigan and studied painting at the Glasgow School of Art.
Website Dani-knoph.myshopify.com
HB or Soft B Pencil
Gum eraser or kneaded eraser
Watercolor paper, 9″ x 12″ or 11″ x 15″
12-inch or longer ruler
Painter’s tape
Container for water
Eyedropper
Paint the palette with wells (you’ll want at least several circular or rectangular wells to mix color in)
Paper towel
At least two small round watercolor brushes and one medium round brush
Tubes of watercolor paint: For a full array of colors, a good place to start is by purchasing one 5ml tube of each: Winsor yellow, yellow ochre, Chinese white, cadmium red, phthalo blue, viridian green. (**Two high-quality brands are Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher)
*Artist will have an extra supply on hand if needed
Please read the GAAC cancellation and refund policy here: http://www.glenarborart.org/terms-and-conditions/
COVID-RELATED UPDATES TO 2023 PROGRAMS AS OF 12/20/2022
To ensure the safety of our students and Staff, we have implemented new procedures for our 2022 programs to mitigate the spread of COVID and still allow participants to have a wonderful time creating art.
- Class sizes will be limited to 12 persons for indoor programs and 16 outdoor programs
- All students who have symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home and not attend class.
- Students and Staff will wash and sanitize hands frequently throughout the day.
- Staff will sanitize common areas and touch surfaces regularly.
- We have optimized our indoor ventilation system to reduce the risk of germs and contaminants spreading through the air.
- If Leelanau County COVID-related cases are designated high risk, students and visitors must wear a face mask to prevent transmission.
To keep pace with the evolving conditions related to the pandemic, Staff will inform the GAAC’s new policies or procedures before the start of the course.